An Indiana police officer and his wife are facing felony child neglect charges after allegedly forcing their six-year-old daughter to stand outside in freezing temperatures as punishment—all because she was upset about not being allowed to wear lip gloss.
Logansport Police Officer Cody Scott and his wife, Kylie Scott, were arrested and charged with two counts of felony child neglect each. In addition to the charges, Scott has been placed on leave from the department, according to local news outlet.
The sign the child was forced to hold 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.”
Officer Scott himself was one of the officers who responded to the call, arriving on the scene alongside his supervisor. When the concerned witness confronted him about the little girl standing outside in dangerously cold conditions, Scott admitted he was responsible but tried to defend his actions.
“Yes, she stays outside for 30 minutes at a time and then goes inside for 10 minutes to warm up,” Scott allegedly told the witness, as captured on body camera footage.
As the conversation unfolded, another man drove by, saw what was happening, and also voiced concern for the child.
Scott’s response?
“Well sir, other than physically harming her—which I obviously haven’t done—no other punishment has been effective,” Scott allegedly stated.
A young girl holding a signage standing outside in the snow, Photo Credit: Fox59 News/Youtube
Scott went on to justify the punishment by claiming his daughter had behavioral issues. He alleged she had threatened to kill members of the family, intentionally urinated on herself, and destroyed household items. He also said she had been in therapy for three years and had a Department of Child Services caseworker assigned to her.
The officer further revealed that his daughter had been hospitalized twice for her behavior but was “kicked out.” He even admitted that he once refused to pick her up until authorities warned him he could be reported for abandonment.
Investigators later interviewed Scott’s wife, Kylie, who admitted the harsh punishment stemmed from their daughter’s reaction to being told she couldn’t wear lip gloss.
Shockingly, this wasn’t the first time the child had been forced to carry a humiliating sign. Investigators learned that, in a previous incident, her parents made her walk into school carrying a sign that read, “I pee on everything and cover it up like a cat.” She was also allegedly forced to carry another sign in a Walmart that said, “I lie to hurt other people.”
Close up shot of the signage which the little girl holds, Photo Credit: Fox59 News/Youtube
While the parents acknowledged their daughter has behavioral disorders and takes medication, investigators say this does not excuse their treatment of her—and in fact, could make the charges against them even more severe.
In response to the growing controversy, the Logansport Board of Public Works voted on Wednesday to place Scott on unpaid leave while the investigation continues.
Logansport Police Chief Brian Rozzi confirmed that the department quickly turned the case over to the Indiana State Police within hours of the initial report.
Now, as the legal process unfolds, many are left questioning how a sworn officer of the law—someone expected to protect and serve—could allegedly treat his own child in such a cruel manner.
Sources: FOX 5
