A South Carolina father who called deputies to complain about his “unruly” 11-year-old son is now facing a criminal charge himself.
Thomas Baker, 44, has been charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, according to a statement from the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook. Investigators say Baker contacted authorities on Saturday, claiming his son “was being unruly” and that he was frustrated with the boy “not listening,” Columbia-based NBC affiliate WIS reported.
When deputies spoke with the child, however, they concluded that Baker was the aggressor. According to the sheriff’s office, the situation began when the boy simply asked for something to eat.
“The juvenile told deputies he had asked for something to eat when he received a reply of, ‘get the (expletive) out of my room or I’m going to wreck your (expletive) face,’” the statement said.
Deputies allege Baker escalated further, telling his son that “you need to take a knife and stab it in the neck and pull it out that way.”
Baker also allegedly made it clear he would not help his child even in an emergency. According to WIS, he told the boy, “If you are on fire, I’ll pour gas on you so you burn even more.”
Court documents reportedly indicate that the disturbing interaction was recorded on video and turned over to investigators.
Sheriff Leroy Ravenell condemned the father’s alleged behavior, invoking a well-known biblical passage to underscore the cruelty described by deputies.
“It reminds me of the verse in Matthew that asks if your son asks for bread who would give him a stone?” Ravenell said. “This boy didn’t even get a stone.”
The child has since been placed in the care of a family member, WIS reported.
