DAVENPORT, IOWA - An Iowa man faces child-endangerment charges for allegedly chaining his 14-year-old son to the bumper of a car. The man's brother was charged with assault.
The 37-year-old Davenport man said he was just trying to prevent his son from running away. Both men said they were just trying to protect the boy.
"Yeah it may have been a little outrageous and out of control, but I was trying to protect him from people I don't want him hanging around with," said Richard Collins, father.
Collins said his son, who has an amputated arm, ran away on Sunday and was picked up by police. On the way home, Collins said his son tried to punch him.
''He decided he wanted to swing and throw punches at me, and I opened-hand smacked him and said, 'You ain't gonna hit me," he said.
Back at the house, Collins said his son trashed his room and broke a window. That's when his brother, James Collins, had the idea of restraining him to the bumper that was not attached to a car.
''The chain was loose," said said James Collins, uncle. "The marks on his ankle, he did himself by pulling on the bumper."
His father said his ex-wife has legal custody but their son had been staying with him.
''His mom gave him to me, cause she can't handle him," he said.
The 14-year-old has since been returned to his mother. His father remains unapologetic.
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