John Jefferson
Haven Duncan, Jaqory Gill and Life Ford (Harris County Jail).
Authorities in Texas have dropped charges against three people who allegedly forced a 6-year-old boy into a dryer at a laundromat and turned it on for a minute.
The alleged incident occurred on Nov. 11, 2024, at the Hi Tek Washateria in Houston, according to the Harris County Constable Precinct 4. But prosecutors dropped the case last week at the “request of the complaining witness,” according to court records. All three suspects were facing child endangerment charges. The case against the trio for allegedly fleeing/interfering with cops and possessing a stolen gun remains ongoing, per the docket.
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As Law&Crime previously reported, the boy was not seriously hurt but was “visibly shaking and crying,” police said. Cops tried to take one of the suspects into custody, but he allegedly took off running. As deputies gave chase, a woman, later identified as 19-year-old Life Ford, stepped in front of them to block their way. Eventually, cops caught the fleeing suspect, 20-year-old Jaqory Gill, and took him into custody. The third suspect, 18-year-old Haven Duncan, had a stolen gun on him, according to cops.
Detectives reviewed video from inside the laundromat that allegedly showed Duncan picking up the boy and placing him into the dryer against his will. The boy was seen trying to fight back but to no avail.
After he allegedly stuffed the boy in the dryer, Ford shut the door, and Duncan allegedly held it shut. Gill allegedly used a credit card to pay for the cycle and pressed the “on” button. They left the boy in the dryer for a minute, police said. Duncan took the boy out and put him into a laundry cart, and Gill and Ford started swinging it around in a “very aggressive manner,” cops allege.
A witness who called police to report the abuse later told detectives the whole ordeal occurred because the boy was crying over losing a bag of chips, and they wanted to punish him, the affidavit said.
In addition to the gun charges, Gill is charged with evading on foot, and Ford faces a count of interfering with the duties of a public servant. All three were taken to the Harris County Jail.
A guardian picked up the boy and took him home, police said. Child Protective Services was also alerted about the incident.
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