According to reports, an Indiana father is facing charges after video of his child playing with a firearm aired on live TV.
Footage of the diaper-clad 4-year-old aired on the REELZ show “On Patrol: Live” over the weekend. CBS 4 in Indianapolis, Ind., reported that the Beech Grove Police Department confirmed Sunday that cameras from the show had followed officers during the apartment complex arrest.
Per the outlet, the man – identified as 45-year-old Shane Osborne – was arrested for child neglect. Jail records cited by the Indianapolis Star show that he is facing a preliminary neglect of a dependent charge.
An affidavit cited by that outlet said Osborne’s downstairs neighbor alerted Beech Grove to the situation. The neighbor told authorities that the toddler had a handgun and was pointing it at people.
WTHR identified the neighbor as Nicole Summers. She said the toddler pointed the pistol at her son.
“We were lucky to see him, to find him, and we were so blessed that gun was not chambered,” Summers said, “or that baby could be dead.”
Broadcast footage of a surveillance video showed the 4-year-old in the hallway of the apartment complex with the gun. At one point, the child pointed the gun toward his own face.
When police arrived at Osborne’s apartment around 4 p.m. Saturday, the toddler answered the door. Osborne walked to the door later – he told officers he and the child’s mother had been sick all day and was not aware the child had left the unit, according to police. He also denied having a gun in the home and said it was his cousin’s.
“I have never brought a gun into this house,” he said.
Law enforcement eventually found the gun, after the child lead them to a roll-top desk underneath a TV. It had 15 rounds in the magazine, but no rounds in the chamber, said the affidavit.
“The broadcast showed officers securing and taking custody of the firearm before arresting Osborne,” according to the Indianapolis Star.
As of Monday, CBS 4 reported that Beech Grove police officials were not releasing many details on the incident. Per the outlet, police seized Ring camera footage from a neighbor’s door as well as a semiautomatic Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol during Osborne’s arrest.
“I received notification from our Police Chief soon after this incident took place,” said a statement from Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley cited by CBS 4 and WTHR. “As with all of you, I’m mortified and what took place and I’m so thankful that no one was hurt, especially the young child. I appreciate the quick action taken by the Beech Grove Police Department to secure the small child and the gun in question. I ask that the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office work tirelessly to secure charges and a conviction against the responsible parties, with maximum penalties. Society shouldn’t accept anything less.”
“It’s almost incomprehensible what you’re watching," said Beech Grove Deputy Police Chief Robert Mercuri, according to WTHR. “I saw it the next day, and even though I knew the outcome, as I’m watching the video, I was still scared. You find yourself catching your breath. I don’t know how you can’t watch that video, parent or non-parent, and not be shocked and disturbed.”
Osborne, is due in court Thursday at 1 p.m. WTHR reported that Osborne is already a felon and could face more charges. According to the outlet, the child is now with his mother, who said that the video was frightening but defended Osborne, calling him a “good dad.”
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