Land O' Lakes Man Arrested After Chaining Teen To Punching Bag

LAND O' LAKES, FL -- A Land O' Lakes man is facing aggravated child abuse charges after reportedly chaining a 17-year-old boy to a punching bag by his ankle.

According to Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, the teen showed other signs of physical abuse as well.

Nocco said deputies were called to the home of Carlos Javier Alvarez Pagan, 42, Tuesday, Feb. 13, after the teen set off an alarm at the house. Deputies found the boy chained to the 150-pound punching bag in the hallway of the home. Pasco firefighters cut the chain attached to the teen's ankle and determined the teen did not need medical treatment.

Deputies later arrested Pagan at a nearby park. During an interview with Pagen, he admitted to chaining the teen to the punching bag, hitting him with a belt and punching him in the face and body.

Pagan, described as a "parental figure" by Nocco, said he intermittently chained the teen to the punching bag from Sunday to Tuesday after the teen ran away from home. Nocco said the teen was only chained when Pagan left the house and the boy had access to food, water and a restroom.

"I can’t go into much detail because we're dealing with a minor," said Nocco during a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 14. "This is a very strange, unusual way to prevent a child from running away. Nobody should be treated like that. This person obviously had anger issues."

Pagan is being held at the Land O' Lakes Detention Center and the boy has been removed from the home.

Video via Pasco Sheriff