Washington Co. grandma accused of using hammer as punishment on 5-year-old

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A Washington County grandmother is out of jail on bond after police said she was arrested for abusing her 5-year-old grandson.

Investigators said 45-year-old Carmen Alexander tied her grandson to a bed with zip ties. When police found the boy, they said he had bruises, scratches and scars all over his body.

According to police, when investigators went inside the home they found zip ties underneath the boy’s mattress.

The boy told police that his grandmother struck him in the hand with a hammer as punishment and bound his wrists to the bedposts.

“They found evidence of the child being restrained with zip ties, and Washington County CYS removed the children,” Charleroi police Detective Eric Porter said.

According to the criminal complaint, the boy had bite-type injuries on his hands from attempting to free himself.

The boy was taken to Monongahela Valley Hospital for treatment. His condition has not been released.

Alexander faces several charges, including aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and unlawful restraint.

WPXI