HOUSTON (TMX) – Three Texas residents are facing charges after they allegedly locked a 6-year-old child in a dryer for their care and turned the machine on, authorities said.

Harris County Police District 4 said deputies responded to Hi Tek Washateria in the 13000 block of Kuykendahl Road in Houston on Nov. 11 following a report. a child being locked inside a clothes dryer.

When deputies arrived, they found the child “visibly shaking and crying.”

While deputies attempted to detain two male and one female suspects, one fled on foot. When deputies tried to follow her, the woman allegedly pushed a deputy to block her.

Finally, 3 suspects were detained. The escaped man was identified as 20-year-old Jaqory Gill. The woman was identified as 19-year-old Life Ford. The other man at the laundromat, identified as 18-year-old Haven Duncan, was also allegedly carrying a loaded firearm.

Following investigation, deputies learned that the child was also in the care of three adults after he became upset after losing a bag of chips. According to the arrest affidavit, after the child resisted using his feet and locked the door, Duncan allegedly placed the child in the clothes dryer as punishment.

It was claimed that Ford prevented the child from escaping by turning off the machine, while Gill started the machine.

The boy was inside for about a minute before Duncan picked him up and placed him in a laundry cart, according to testimony.

People around called the police and ambulance. The child’s mother, who was not among the three caregivers at the laundromat, was not charged with the incident.

All three suspects were transported to the Harris County Jail.

Duncan was charged with child endangerment and his bail was set at $10,000. Gill was charged with fleeing on foot and his bond was set at $100. Ford was charged with interfering with the duties of a public officer and his bail was set at $100.

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