Indiana Man Arrested After Allegedly Trying to Force Bar of Soap Into 7-Year-Old Boy’s Mouth Over a Curse Word — Child Left With Bleeding Head Injury

Daniel Schergen, 34, allegedly ordered his girlfriend to stop at a convenience store to buy soap before attempting to punish the child inside their SUV. Police say the incident was not the first time he had used soap as a form of discipline.

A disturbing incident in Indiana has led to a felony child abuse charge after a man allegedly attempted to force a bar of soap into a 7-year-old boy’s mouth because the child used a curse word. Daniel Schergen, 34, is accused of pinning the young boy’s head against the back of a car seat and trying to push the soap into his mouth during a late-August trip through LaPorte County. According to police, the confrontation became physical, leaving the child crying and screaming with a bleeding injury to his forehead.

Court documents describe how the incident allegedly unfolded inside an SUV carrying Schergen, his girlfriend, the 7-year-old boy and three other children. After one of the children was dropped off at football practice, the young boy reportedly said a curse word that a witness in the vehicle described as particularly bad. Schergen allegedly reacted by directing his girlfriend to pull over at a convenience store in Kingsbury and purchase a bar of soap. When she returned, he allegedly took the soap and attempted to force it into the child’s mouth while holding his head against the seat.

The boy reportedly refused to open his mouth, struggling to keep it closed as Schergen allegedly continued trying to push the soap inside. Police say Schergen then struck the child in the forehead. The 7-year-old fought back by hitting and kicking the adult several times. When the confrontation ended, the child was reportedly left with a bloody, oval-shaped mark on his forehead. Schergen’s girlfriend allegedly returned to the store to purchase alcohol wipes and bandages to clean and cover the injury.

Investigators later learned that the alleged punishment may not have been an isolated incident. According to court records, Schergen had previously put soap in the boy’s mouth on at least one other occasion. Authorities began investigating in September after receiving a suspected child abuse report from the Indiana Department of Child Services. Photographs taken by the child’s mother reportedly showed redness on his forehead and bruising on his face following the August incident. During questioning, Schergen allegedly acknowledged holding the boy’s head against the car seat and attributed the redness to that action.

Schergen reportedly told investigators that the child had difficulty controlling his temper and had previously been suspended from school for hitting other students. He also said he had been trying to move away from traditional punishments such as spanking, instead using timeouts and conversations to address behavioral problems. However, LaPorte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan emphasized that although parents and caregivers may discipline children, there are legal limits to what constitutes acceptable punishment. Authorities must determine whether the alleged conduct crossed that line and resulted in criminal harm.

Schergen was arrested on a warrant on October 23, 2026, and charged with felony domestic battery against a person under the age of 14. He was released from the LaPorte County Jail five days later after posting a $750 bond. If convicted, he could face between six and 30 months in prison. The case remains pending, and Schergen is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: Law&Crime – Man Arrested for Shoving Bar of Soap Into Little Boy’s Mouth Over ‘Really Bad’ Curse Word