WACO, Texas — A U.S. Army sergeant stationed at Fort Hood faces a felony charge after allegedly assaulting a 3-year-old boy outside a Waco apartment complex, an incident captured by home surveillance footage that provoked widespread dismay upon circulating on social media.
Authorities were alerted to the incident at The Legend Apartments on Corporation Parkway on Friday afternoon following a report from a concerned witness. Police say the doorbell camera footage shows 29-year-old Sgt. Paul Thames hitting the toddler several times in the torso with a closed fist.
The child was swiftly taken to a local hospital for evaluation after the attack and was later discharged, reported to be in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery. While specifics of Thames’ relationship to the child were not disclosed, officials confirmed that the two were acquainted.
Further details from the footage reveal disturbing verbal and physical altercations, with Thames allegedly aggressively questioning the child’s behavior before physically lifting him by his face.
Thames is now held at McLennan County Jail, charged with injury to a child, a third-degree felony in Texas, under a $200,000 bond.
The incident has drawn reaction from the military community, with Army officials from the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood expressing their shock and assuring that such conduct stands in stark contrast to the Army’s values. They confirmed that Thames is a sergeant with the division, about 65 miles southwest of where the incident occurred.
Local authorities, including Waco Police, continue to delve into the incident, with the captured video serving as crucial evidence. Child protective services are involved, conducting further assessments and interviews to safeguard the child’s wellbeing.
The motive behind the assault and the events leading up to it remain unclear as investigations are ongoing, with police yet to divulge any underlying causes for Thames’ actions.
The potential consequences for Thames, if convicted, include a prison sentence of two to ten years. Legal proceedings are anticipated to progress soon.
The case has stirred considerable alarm and condemnation both locally and online, underscoring a call for stringent action and justice for the young victim, reflecting public sentiment against child abuse and misconduct by figures in authority.