A Vancouver minister has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a 6-year-old child with a belt during a church service, authorities said.
The Clark County Sheriff's Office responded to a complaint from a mother who reported that her child returned home from a service at the "Army of the Lord -- Ministry of Defense" with bruises and welts across their lower back, hips, and buttocks.
The mother had asked a friend to take her child to the service on Feb. 16, as she was unable to attend, and requested that the minister, Gabriel Hardy, 42, speak to the child about recent disrespectful behavior.
The child later told the mother that Hardy had whipped them with a belt approximately 12 times.
The Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigated the case and found that Hardy openly preached about corporal punishment and claimed he was divinely ordained to chastise and discipline children. Hardy admitted to the child's mother that he had used a belt on the child.
On Feb. 20, the SVU, with assistance from the Major Crimes Unit and the Tactical Detective Unit, executed a search warrant at the church, which operates out of a private residence in the Hazel Dell area.
Although Hardy was not present during the search, evidence of the crime was seized.
Detectives later contacted Hardy, who admitted to striking the child with a belt. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Clark County Jail for Assault of a Child in the third degree.
Authorities believe Hardy may have similarly assaulted other children in the area. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Clark County Sheriff's Office by calling 3-1-1 or emailing detectives at cjcdetective@clark.wa.gov.
source: https://katu.com/news/local/vancouv...ulting-child-with-belt-during-church-service#
archive: https://archive.md/cis3B
The Clark County Sheriff's Office responded to a complaint from a mother who reported that her child returned home from a service at the "Army of the Lord -- Ministry of Defense" with bruises and welts across their lower back, hips, and buttocks.
The mother had asked a friend to take her child to the service on Feb. 16, as she was unable to attend, and requested that the minister, Gabriel Hardy, 42, speak to the child about recent disrespectful behavior.
The child later told the mother that Hardy had whipped them with a belt approximately 12 times.
The Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigated the case and found that Hardy openly preached about corporal punishment and claimed he was divinely ordained to chastise and discipline children. Hardy admitted to the child's mother that he had used a belt on the child.
On Feb. 20, the SVU, with assistance from the Major Crimes Unit and the Tactical Detective Unit, executed a search warrant at the church, which operates out of a private residence in the Hazel Dell area.
Although Hardy was not present during the search, evidence of the crime was seized.
Detectives later contacted Hardy, who admitted to striking the child with a belt. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Clark County Jail for Assault of a Child in the third degree.
Authorities believe Hardy may have similarly assaulted other children in the area. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Clark County Sheriff's Office by calling 3-1-1 or emailing detectives at cjcdetective@clark.wa.gov.
source: https://katu.com/news/local/vancouv...ulting-child-with-belt-during-church-service#
archive: https://archive.md/cis3B
