Alabama man repeatedly stuffed child in dryer, turned it on

(FOX NEWS) -- An Alabama man was arrested last week after being accused of trapping a young child in a clothes dryer on multiple occasions -- and sometimes turning the machine on, authorities said.

Steven Garret Todhunter, 25, allegedly put a child under 6 years old inside the dryer at his Alabaster home and pinned the door shut with a chair numerous times between May 2017 and May 2018, police said.

The abuse went unreported until September 2018, authorities said.

"It's painful," Paul Johnson of the Alabaster police told WBRC-TV. "Sometimes we see things in this line of work that no one should see. When someone hurts a child it hurts me as a father."

A warrant obtained by the station shows that Todhunter was also accused of sticking the child inside a washing machine. He allegedly threatened to turn that machine on as well, telling the child "the water is going to be very hot."

Records show Todhunter has a 3-year-old son, according to Alabama Live.

Todhunter was charged with aggravated child abuse and domestic violence, the outlet reported. He was released the day after his arrest after posting $20,000 bond.