Indiana kids have a basketball birthday party, but then one father allegedly takes the game too seriously: ‘biting is allowed’
Multiple parents found bite marks on their children
A man has been arrested by police after he allegedly attacked several children at a birthday party in Indiana. Thomas Russell was charged with three counts of battery in relation to an incident in which a person under the age of 14 was injured after Russell allegedly bit children during a basketball game at the party.
The alleged incident took place at a birthday party in Washington County on November 7, according to WDRB. Russell, 39, was reportedly arrested after an incident involving three children. An investigation into Russell was launched by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office after a mother discovered a bite mark on her nine-year-old son’s back, as per WHAS (via Us Weekly).
Multiple people in attendance at the party alleged violence from Russell towards the children. A man also claimed that he found a bite mark on his 10-year-old son’s wrist. Russell also allegedly told the children during the basketball game that “biting is allowed.”
Two children also told police that Russell had bitten them during a basketball game after they had refused to let him take the ball. However, according to the arrest citation, the father denied having bitten the children. A third child, a nine-year-old boy, told police that he and Russell had begun to “leg wrestle” at a cabin during the party when Russell allegedly punched him in the groin.
A judge entered a plea for Russell
The father was charged on the day of the incident. Following his arrest, a judge entered a preliminary not guilty plea on Russell’s behalf on Tuesday. His attorney also claimed that a report had listed no injuries for two children and minor injuries for a third. The judge responded by pointing to the report, which detailed a large bite mark on one of the children’s shoulders.
Speaking on Russell’s alleged actions, the judge said, “This is very abhorrent behavior.” He went on to add that he had never seen a case such as Russell’s, saying, “I don’t know that I’ve seen an adult charged with biting children.”
WDRB reported that prosecutors had asked that his bond be set at $75,000 while Russell’s attorneys requested it be set at $500 as he had cooperated with police and had no known criminal record.
The judge opted to set Russell’s bond at $30,000, as well as barring him from attending any sporting events where any of the three children involved in the incident are playing, even if his own child were playing at the event.
Russell’s trial is scheduled for March next year.
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