Logansport Police Officer Cody Scott and his wife, Kylie, are facing charges after pleading not guilty to child neglect
A police officer has found himself at the center of a serious child neglect case, accused of forcing his young daughter to stand outside in the snow holding a humiliating sign.
Cody Scott, an officer from Indiana, and his wife, Kylie, were both arrested after someone called 911 on January 19. The caller reported seeing a child outside in freezing weather, holding a sign for an extended period.
According to official court filings, the sign allegedly read: "I want to stab and kill my brother. I even take an antipsychotic. If you need to give pity, then give it to the victims."
The punishment reportedly stemmed from the child misbehaving during church and Sunday school over a disagreement related to make-up. Authorities claim that the couple made their daughter stand outdoors in 18-degree Fahrenheit conditions as punishment.
Both parents now face two counts each of felony child neglect.
Documents reveal that Indiana State Police responded to the scene, where Mr. Scott and his supervisor from the Logansport Police Department were already present.
Cody Scott left his 6-year-old out in the cold Logansport Police Department
Police say that the girl, who has documented additional needs, was forced to stand outside for 30-minute intervals, with short 10-minute warm-up breaks indoors.
The affidavit also states that Mr. Scott and his wife made their daughter hold different signs on other occasions. One sign reportedly read: "I pee on everything and cover it up like a cat."
Another sign she allegedly carried while walking through Walmart read: "I lie to hurt people."
During the incident in the snow, a concerned bystander reportedly confronted Mr. Scott. He allegedly responded: "Well, sir, aside from me cruelly beating her physically, I've not done any other punishment that's worked for her."
"She's threatened to kill my family, she wants to embarrass us, she wants to urinate on herself and destroy things in the house. I have a DCS caseworker involved, she's been in therapy for three years, she also has the wrap around program at school. She goes in every 30 minutes to warm back up, she's bundled up very warm and then she'll come back out."
Court records indicate that the parents have reported their child for having a history of behavioral challenges, describing instances of her “acting out” or displaying what they called “attention-seeking behavior.”
The little girl was left to stand in the cold FOX59/CBS4 viewer
The Indiana State Police investigator who compiled the affidavit wrote that the punishment was “excessive compared to the child’s behavior and unnecessarily degrading.”
Currently, Mr. Scott is on unpaid administrative leave. Both he and his wife turned themselves in at Cass County Jail before being released on bond.
Mrs. Scott is set to appear in court on May 22, while Mr. Scott will have his court appearance on May 8, ahead of their September trial. Both parents have pleaded not guilty.
