Eastern Iowa Man Accused Of Shoving Boy Into Fire Pit

It was a story from the holiday weekend that no one wanted to believe was true. A young child pushed into a fire pit and severely burned. But it happened in nearby Palo. Fortunately, the man accused in the case has turned himself in.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Linn County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched at 10:35 a.m. Saturday to a splash pad in Palo after receiving reports of a juvenile with severe burns to his head and shoulder. The calls had come in near 1003 First Street in Palo, according to the Gazette. After an initial investigation, officers determined that the young boy had gotten the burns when a man shoved him into a fire pit. Officials identified the man as 42-year-old Christopher Wayne Maas of Palo.

The Gazette reports that while the young boy was taken to St. Luke's Hospital for treatment, Linn County deputies searched the home at 1003 First Street but were not able to locate Maas. According to a news release, Maas did eventually turn himself in and was taken into custody. The Gazette reports that he was booked in the Linn County jail on charges of child endangerment causing bodily injury and interference with official acts. The Linn County Sheriff was assisted by members of the Cedar Rapids police department, the Hiawatha Police Department, and the Hiawatha Ambulance Service.

The incident remains under investigation.

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