A video shared by police in Arkansas shows the moment officers rescued a child who had been hidden inside a secret closet that was nailed shut inside a house.
John Thompson, 40, of Tontitown, was arrested Friday after police found his 5-year-old daughter inside the closet while they were trying to take custody of the minor, the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.
The 22-second video shows a man saying “Baby,” “baby” and “hey, sweetie,” as he kneels in a closet compartment before pulling out a child hidden within.
“Jon moved some boxes and then had to pull a board that was nailed to the wall to get access to a small space behind the closet wall,” the incident report said.
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Thompson then admitted to concealing inside the compartment so DHS would not take custody, the report said.
Thompson now faces multiple charges including false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia, NBC affiliate KNWA reported.
He was booked at the Washington County Detention Center on Nov. 3 and was issued a $5,000 bond, which was posted Sunday, officials said.
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Officials did not reveal details about why the state was granted custody of the child.
A spokesperson for the Department of Human Services, which oversees the Division of Children and Family Services, declined to comment Tuesday.
