Police and Fire Briefs for Sept. 5, 2012

Police: Man hit boy with extension cord

Baker police arrested a 46-year-old man Monday accused of beating his stepson in a street with an extension cord, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

A patrol officer was stopped at the Coolidge Street and Arkansas Street intersection when the driver of a truck ahead of him exited his vehicle and told the officer he and his wife saw a man beating a boy with an extension cord in the street, the affidavit says.

The man pointed to Carlos Erwin Bell, who was walking down Arkansas Street with a limping boy nearby, the affidavit says. The boy’s age was not provided.

As the officer approached the boy, he saw Bell speed away in a black Chevrolet Malibu, the affidavit says. The officer pursued Bell and pulled him over.

Bell told the officer he “whooped (his) stepson” with the extension cord because the boy tried to set his and his neighbor’s house on fire, the affidavit says.

The boy told the officer he was in the backyard of his home burning leaves and paper with a lighter, the affidavit says.

The boy said Bell saw him playing with the lighter and began yelling at him, the affidavit says.

The boy tried to ride away on his bike, but the chain popped off around Coolidge Street, where Bell caught him and beat him, the affidavit says.

The boy had welts and lacerations on his shoulder, left arm, left rib area and both of his legs, the affidavit says.

The officer found the extension cord in Bell’s car, the affidavit says.

Bell, 3645 Grant St., was booked into Parish Prison on one count each of aggravated battery, cruelty to juveniles and disturbing the peace.

Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.


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Comments (5)


1) Comment by sweettnt - 05/09/2012

To everyone who has commented. My husband and I were the ones who saw this and reported it to the police officer behind us. I am a mother of 4, ages 20 down to 7 (including 2 step sons). There are many times when kids do things where they need their behind whooped, but what this man did and witnessing it was insane. He ran a stop sign in his car, could have caused an accident, put his hands on the front of our truck and I personally thought he was just threatening the boy. He then proceeded to beating this child, not just whooping him. He had the electric cord bringing his arm from way up and then across his body. It scared me to think that someone could beat a child that way. When the police officer drove up behind us, I told my husband to let him know what was going on. I live in Baker, have my whole life and I try not to get involved with others problems but there was no other choice in this situation. No person needs to be treated in that way. I tell you one thing, if someone had hit my child like that, I would have come unglued. I do not understand how someone can let someone else do their child that way. Of course I am not sure what the mom did and I refuse to try and make assumptions. I was raised in a home where my dad was strict and all he had to do was threaten and I knew better but situations like this are not necessary, once again, I am still shaken by what I saw and just don't think it is fair to assume what is going on when you were not there to witness it.

2) Comment by Whatnow - 05/09/2012

@foldgers, I believe that is the reason for the decline of American's youth. No consequences for bad behavior. Man, I hated when I had to pick a switch. Moma made us use willow switches that never broke!! Just the threat after one whipping was enough to keep me good.

3) Comment by foldgers - 05/09/2012

Whatever happened to grabbing your belt or making the kid go pick a switch... Those two words put fear in me and I KNEW I did wrong. Granted this guy went WAY overboard, but still, I believe you can get in trouble for using a belt these days. Kind of sux

4) Comment by JenniferW1126 - 05/09/2012

It doesn't matter who you believe! BEATING a child with an extension cord is not acceptable! I have no problem with the guy whooping the kids butt, but "The boy had welts and lacerations on his shoulder, left arm, left rib area and both of his legs". That is not discipline, it's abuse and the mother should be arrested for allowing this to happen to her child!

5) Comment by ABayouBoy - 05/09/2012

The question is: Which one do you believe to be telling the truth?.