South Jersey Couple Charged with Chaining Child to Radiator

A mother and her boyfriend allegedly chained her 10-year old son to a radiator in their Camden home as a form of punishment.  They are now charged with several crimes including Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

31-year old Florence M. Pollard, of Cramer Street and 29-year old Blackwood, N.J. resident Brian L. Craig were arrested on Monday afternoon, 6abc.com reports.

Police say the child had allegedly been fastened to the radiator for two weeks.  Investigators intervened around 3:35 p.m. yesterday when Pollard called police to say her son had run away.  He was found a short time later a few blocks from the home on Cramer Street.

When officers began interviewing the child, he allegedly told them he had been chained to a radiator in his mother's bedroom, forced to sleep on the floor uncovered. The child also alleges his hands were occasionally restrained by plastic zip ties and that he had been chained up as punishment.

Camden County police searched the home and reportedly found a metal chain and lock used to restrain the boy. The chain was attached to a radiator pipe, police told Action News.

In addition to the 2nd degree crime of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Florence and Craig were arrested and charged with 3rd degree Criminal Restraint. Pollard was remanded to the county jail on bail of $50,000 cash or bond. Craig was remanded to the county jail on bail of $50,000 cash.

The boy, along with his five siblings - ranging in age from 11 years old to 7 months old - were taken into custody by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency.