Dad chained car bumper to teen son, police say
article by: Ann Mcglynn [available online via QCTimes.net] Oct. 5th 2009
A Davenport father who allegedly chained a detached bumper from a 1979 Camaro to his son's ankle is facing a criminal charge after police say he admitted to doing so in an attempt to keep the 14-year-old from running away.
Richard Allen Collins, 37, of 1516 W. 7th St., is accused of child endangerment with bodily injury. His brother, James Harry Collins, 43, of the same address, is accused of assault with injury.
Authorities became involved late Sunday afternoon when Richard Collins called the police reporting his 14-year-old son was out of control.
According to reports:
The teen ran away from his father's house on Wednesday because "his father routinely beats and hits him," the police report states. The teen had visible signs of injury to his face.
He found a ride to Wilton, Iowa, where he was picked up by the police for jaywalking. The police called Richard Collins to pick up his son Sunday, but the teen said he did not want to go home with his father because he was afraid of being beaten.
The teen did eventually leave the police department with his dad, who arrived with James Collins to pick him up.
In the car on the way back to Davenport, there was a physical altercation between Richard Collins and his son. It is disputed as to whether it was just Richard Collins hitting his son, or if both participated, police reports indicate.
Once at the house, the physical altercation continued. Richard Collins told his son to go to his room. Reports indicate the 14-year-old damaged items in his room and threatened to run away again.
Richard and James Collins then wrapped a log chain around the teen's ankle and padlocked it. The opposite end of the chain was attached to what was later described as a heavy car bumper retrieved from the garage.
The windows in the teen's bedroom are screwed shut, the police report noted, also to prevent the teen from running away.
The car bumper was left chained to the teen's ankle for up to 30 minutes. After it was unhooked, Richard Collins called the police.
The Iowa Department of Human Services is involved. The teen was released to his mother.
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