An Arkansas father is facing felony charges after allegedly hiding his 5-year-old daughter in a concealed compartment behind a false wall in the back of a closet. The father, identified as Jon Thompson, 40, was trying to prevent the state from taking custody of his daughter. Body camera footage captured the moment when Thompson revealed the hidden compartment and rescued his terrified daughter. The incident took place in Tontitown, northwest Arkansas.
Authorities were dispatched to Thompson’s parents’ house on November 1 to assist the Department of Human Services in taking custody of the child. Thompson had been granted temporary custody but had failed to comply with regular drug testing. Upon arriving at the scene, police heard banging sounds, later determined to be Thompson hammering the drywall over the hidden compartment.
Despite initial resistance from Thompson, the officers convinced him to reveal the location of his daughter and hand her over. The officers were shocked by the hiding spot and reached out to the prosecuting attorney to build a case against Thompson. The little girl, when interviewed, expressed fear and described the compartment as small and dark. She claimed that her father had told her she would be taken away if she didn’t enter the hiding spot.
The child was trapped in the compartment for over an hour, surrounded by flammable insulation and with only a burning candle for light. The police report revealed that this was the first time she had been in the compartment, which her father had referred to as a “super hideout.” She tried to ask for help but was ignored.
Following the incident, the girl, who is estranged from her mother, was placed in a foster home. On November 3, Thompson was arrested on charges of false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a minor, and interference with child custody. During a search of his parents’ home, police discovered a bullet-resistant vest in the hidden compartment.
Authorities believe that Thompson’s actions were criminal and a result of his own poor decision-making. The case highlights the lengths some individuals may go to prevent losing custody of their children. The well-being of the child was endangered, with the girl placed in a confined space with flammable materials and a burning candle.
The incident has raised concerns about child custody disputes and the potential dangers faced by children caught in the middle. The girl’s safety was compromised, and authorities are now working to ensure her well-being in a foster home.
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