Background: A section of Delaney Creek Park in Indiana (Google Maps). Inset: Thomas Russell (Washington County Sheriff's Office).
A man in Indiana is accused of biting multiple children at his kid's birthday party because they wouldn't give him the ball during a basketball game.
Thomas Russell, 39, has been charged with three counts of battery with injury to a person under 14 years of age, according to Washington Circuit Court records reviewed by Law&Crime. He is being held in jail on a $30,000 full cash bond.
On Saturday, Russell was apparently having a birthday party for his child at Delaney Creek Park in Washington County, in southern Indiana. He had rented a cabin, and several other children were attending the party.
According to an arrest citation obtained by regional ABC affiliate WHAS, the partygoers were playing a basketball game when Russell told the kids that "biting is allowed." The man allegedly bit two children as they were playing.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation after a woman said she found a large bite mark on the back of her 9-year-old son. Authorities went to speak with the boy when they reportedly encountered another parent — this time a father — saying his 10-year-old son had also been bitten. That man's son said it was Russell who bit him on the wrist, according to the court document.
Another 9-year-old boy said that while at the park, he and Russell had begun to "leg wrestle" at the cabin when Russell allegedly punched the child in the groin, deputies said. Russell reportedly admitted to law enforcement that he had been playing basketball, but he denied biting any child.
However, multiple children at the party said they witnessed Russell's alleged violence.
Deputies arrested Russell and booked him into jail. He had an initial hearing on Tuesday, and he is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 10.