Man charged with battering, neglecting child

A Putnam County man was arrested Wednesday evening for allegedly battering his four-year-old child.

Rickie Allen Johnson Jr., 25, faces preliminary charges of battery on a child and neglect of a dependent.

At 6:55 p.m. Putnam County Sheriff's Deputies Mike Downing, Matt Biggs and Josh Boller were dispatched to 3435 N. CR 100 West, Greencastle, to check on a suicidal person.

Upon arrival, they found Johnson standing beside a truck in front of the address. He was packing his belongings to leave.

One of the officers kept Johnson outside while Downing went inside to gather more information.

Two adult witnesses said that about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, they saw Johnson grab his daughter by the arm after discovering she had wet the bed.

He then pulled down her pants and smacked her bottom approximately eight times.

Johnson then allegedly grabbed his other two children by the arms and "swung them onto the living room floor."

One of the other adults told Johnson to stop.

Later that day, at approximately 4:15 p.m., one witness said Johnson returned to the house expressing his anger and saying he wanted Child Protective Services to take the children away.

When one of the other adults called Johnson's sister to take the children, he threatened to cut his own throat and left the house.

CPS and the police were notified.

Arriving more than 10 hours after the initial incident, Downing found bruising and welt marks visible on the girl's buttocks and lower back.

Johnson was placed under arrest and booked into the Putnam County Jail at 8:22 p.m.