Police charge Fineview man with duct-taping child to chair

Police on Friday arrested a Fineview man accused of using duct tape to unlawfully restrain his son.

Michael Erdlen Sr. was supposed to meet with detectives at Pittsburgh police headquarters but never showed – now he’s in the Allegheny County Jail.

Police say the alleged crime happened at a Meadville Street home on July 30.

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Investigators say Erdlen accused his son of stealing his girlfriend's phone and allegedly told the boy to get the duct tape and go into the basement.

Police paperwork says the child was "... ordered to his knees and both of his ankles were duct taped to a chair ... for approximately three hours ..."

According to police, Erdlen has surveillance cameras in the home and kept watch on the basement from the bedroom.

When the boy tried to break free, Erdlen allegedly "... duct taped the boy's hands before turning the basement light off ..."

Police say the child was eventually able to get the tape off and ran to a friend's house wearing no socks or shoes.

That friend's mother took the boy to Children's Hospital when he showed up at her doorstep.

Cox Media Group