Authorities have arrested a woman after she allegedly handcuffed her 11-year-old to an oil tank in the basement.
Videos by Wide Open Country
On January 11, at around 9:55 PM, officers were dispatched to a residence on East Kercher Avenue. According to an official report by the Lebanon County Regional Police Department, officers found an 11-year-old juvenile male who was restrained with handcuffs. An investigation revealed that the mother, Chazzity Candelario, 33, had 'restrained the juvenile to an oil tank in the basement using handcuffs.'
Candelario was arrested two days later, on January 13. She faces three charges: Endangering the welfare of a child, false imprisonment, and unlawful restraint.
The Child Was Restrained While The Mother Was Away From The House
According to a report by ABC27, local police received a criminal complaint that a child was "chained to a bed" at the residence. Police found the child handcuffed to the railing of a bunk bed. The child alleged that Candelario tied them to a post in the basement. They were able to get free but accidentally handcuffed themselves to the bed.
The report reveals the event wasn't a one-time occurrence. According to the child, he was sometimes left in the basement for up to two hours at a time. During that period, he was handcuffed to the leg of a fuel tank. Candelario allegedly admitted to locking the child in a small utility room as well as the basement. She also explained that she "has a hard time controlling her children."
A report by FOX43 also alleges that police made contact with Candelario, and she told them "not to speak to the children" until she returned home. Police have not revealed if Candelario was at home when they arrived, but this points to her not being at the residence at the time.
It's unclear how many other children were at the residence and if these forms of restraint were used on them. Chazzity Candelario is currently being held in Lebanon County Correctional Facility with a $100,000 bail. A court hearing is scheduled for January 23.
