A Mason City woman is accused of intentionally starting her clothes dryer with her young son inside. Police have arrested 25-year-old Mallory Hakes for child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor, after a joint investigation by the Department of Human Services from a report of suspected child abuse.
Investigators determined that Hakes’ 22-month old boy had crawled into the clothes dryer located in the basement of the residence to hide. Police say when Hakes found the boy in the dryer, she shut the door and turned the dryer on for a period of no longer than a few seconds as a form of punishment for the child.
The child was not injured in the incident.
By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City