A dad has been accused of biting kids at his own child’s birthday party after reportedly declaring that teeth were an acceptable part of a basketball game.
Thomas Russell, 39, allegedly told youngsters that ‘biting is allowed’ before sinking his teeth into two of them during a dispute over the ball.
He’s also accused of punching a nine-year-old boy in the groin during a spot of wrestling, suggesting that the party’s sporting activities all got rather out of hand.
Russell had organized the birthday celebration at Delaney Creek Park in Washington County, Indiana, on November 7, renting a cabin and inviting several children along.
But the gathering ended with police investigating allegations of violence against three youngsters. Russell is now facing three counts of battery resulting in injury to a person under the age of 14.
According to an arrest citation, Russell joined the children playing basketball and reportedly declared that biting was permitted.
Two youngsters told investigators he subsequently bit them after they refused to hand over the ball. Russell may have fancied himself as Michael Jordan, but the alleged tactics were seemingly more Michael Jaw-dan.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after a mother said she discovered a large bite mark on her nine-year-old son’s back and reported it to police.
Deputies also spoke to another parent whose 10-year-old son had allegedly been bitten. The boy told officers Russell had bitten him on the wrist during the basketball game.
And the allegations didn’t end on the basketball court.
A third child, aged nine, claimed Russell punched him in the groin while the pair were ‘leg wrestling’ inside the rented cabin.
Russell acknowledged playing basketball with the children but denied biting anyone, according to the arrest citation. Several youngsters told investigators they had witnessed the alleged incidents.
Human bites can actually pose a surprisingly serious medical risk, even when the initial injury appears relatively minor. According to the Cleveland Clinic, healthcare providers in the US treat approximately 250,000 human bites each year.
Human saliva contains bacteria that can cause infections if the skin is broken. Some estimates suggest that between 10% and 20% of human bite wounds become infected, although it isn’t known whether any of the children in this case suffered complications.
Russell was arrested and jailed following the investigation. He appeared in court on Tuesday, where a judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
The allegations were unusual enough to leave even the judge struggling to recall anything quite like them.
‘I mean, this is very abhorrent behavior,’ the judge said, according to WDRB. ‘I don’t know that I’ve seen an adult charged with biting children.’
Russell’s bond was set at $30,000, described in reports as a full cash bond. He’s due to return to court on December 10.
The judge also imposed a rather specific restriction on his attendance at children’s sporting events. Russell has been ordered to ‘not attend any sporting events in which the victims are participating in, even those events that would include his own child.’