The detainee defended himself saying that everything was part of a plan to raise awareness among the people
The police arrested the man after witnesses of the incident denounced him
A man from Norridge (Chicago) arrested for locking his three-year-old son in the trunk of his car has now defended himself against the allegations, arguing that it was all part of a "social experiment."
On September 2, Boguslaw Matlak (28) was arrested and charged with endangering the life of a child after having locked his child in the trunk of his vehicle on public roads.
But, according to his version to the police, he did it because he wanted to make people aware and wanted them to get involved.
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According to NBC News , Matlak and his wife, Laura Quijano , tried to get people's attention to understand how they react to a situation that puts a child at risk.
"You have been bad and I will punish you in the trunk, " Matlak would have shouted to his son, according to testimony obtained by the authorities. After locking up the child, the defendant got into the car and retired.
But it turns out that the experiment, in fact, worked as supposedly the father's intention and three people reported the incident to the police.
"The witnesses were alarmed that someone could do that to a small child, especially with such a hot day like this ," the police said in their official statement, according to the NY Post.
Matlak was subsequently apprehended when he returned to the scene and an agent recognized him.
Boguslaw Matlak. Photo: NBC Chicago
"I think our agents did the right thing by arresting him. We have to prioritize the well-being of the child. Anyone who locks up their child in a trunk, even as a joke, will have to give some explanations, "said Norridge Police Chief David Disselhorst.
The defendant told the police that he was trying to make himself popular on the internet and explained that on two other occasions he had faked the same situation, but that no witness had reacted until now.
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However, according to the statement of the police cited by the media, during the interrogation Matlak changed his version several times . They also found him a recording device and even claimed to be an informant for the Cook County police, NBC reports .
The children's services put the son of Matlak and Quijano in the custody of other relatives during the next three weeks, but last Wednesday the boy was returned to his mother with the agreement not to use the child for more social experiments .
Regarding Matlak, he is expected to be presented in court next Friday to define his legal status.