According to authorities, a Vancouver preacher who claimed to have been given the supernatural right to discipline kids is suspected of physically beating a 6-year-old child at church for acting disrespectfully.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office claims that on Sunday, Gabriel Hardy, 42, a minister of a church that is located in a Hazel Dell area home, repeatedly beat the youngster with a belt.
The claimed incident happened when the child’s mother, unable to attend church, asked a friend to take the youngster. According to a press release from officials, the friend requested that the minister speak with the mother about the child’s recent disrespectful behavior.
According to authorities, the mother saw welts and bruises on the child’s buttocks, hips, and lower back after they got home from the Army of the Lord Ministry of Defense chapel.
She informed the authorities on Monday, and they learned that Hardy publicly advocated for the physical treatment of young children and claimed that he was ordained by God to discipline them.
According to sources, police discovered proof of the suspected crime during their investigation of Hardy’s house on Thursday. According to authorities, he admitted to officers later that day that he had belted the toddler. On suspicion of assaulting a child, he was taken into custody and checked into the Clark County Jail.
Hardy’s court date was set on Friday at 1:30 p.m. He was not available for remark.
State politics and government are covered by Carlos Fuentes. You may contact him at [email protected] or 503-221-5386.
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