Dewayne L. WangusHURLOCK, Md.- A Dorchester County man is behind bars on child abuse and related charges following accusations that he tried to drown his 12-year-old son in a bathtub while disciplining him.
The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office said that on Thursday, Feb. 9, deputies were called to a home on Beulah Road outside of Hurlock to investigate the report of a child drowned in a bathtub.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they found a 12-year-old boy on the floor of the living room unresponsive but still breathing. EMS units from Dorchester EMS and the Hurlock Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene and started treatment. Police said that a short time later the child regained consciousness and stated, "My dad tried to drown me."
The child was flown from the scene by Maryland State Police Medivac and transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital for treatment. According to police, he suffered head and internal injuries as well as a broken arm. He was listed as in critical but stable condition.
Police said that during the ensuing investigation, a detectives from Sheriff's Office uncovered evidence that the child's father, 42-year-old Dewayne L. Wangus, of the aforementioned address, had attempted to discipline the child and had lost control.
Wangus was arrested and charged with first-degree child abuse with severe injury, second-degree child abuse, first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He was ordered held on $500,000 bond.
Wangus is no stranger to police. According to the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, he was charged with assault on at least two other occasions.
