Apollo couple accused of repeatedly abusing child, sometimes with Taser shocks

A couple is accused by Apollo police of abusing a young teen with a Taser.

On Monday, Apollo police charged suspects Dawn Marie Callender, 33, of Chicora, and Joshua Michael Hetrick, 41, of Bethel Township, with felony charges including aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and use of an incapacitating device.

Apollo Police Officer Ronald Baustert said felony warrants for both suspects have been issued and police are trying to locate them.

The charges stem from incidents that police said occurred at an Apollo residence in late 2019.

In a criminal complaint, police said on one occasion, the teen was thrown against a wall and shocked by Hetrick with a Taser on the upper legs during a three-hour period.

Police said the suspects used the Taser as a means of discipline and the victim estimated they had been shocked by Hetrick with a Taser more than 100 times.

According to the arrest papers, the victim told police they also were choked by both suspects on multiple occasions.

In the complaint, the teen told police one of the incidents involved Hetrick striking the victim so forcefully in the face they fell down a flight of stairs.

The victim also told police that Callender drank alcohol to excess.

According to the complaint, Apollo police previously responded to a domestic call involving the couple at the same residence.

Police said Callender admitted to some of the accusations. They said Callender told a social worker in an interview last year that she frequently blacked out from drinking.

Police said the child is living elsewhere.