The parents of a 9-year-old North Carolina boy were arrested after the child was found padlocked in a dog kennel outside the house in freezing temperatures.

Cops from the Davidson County Sheriff's Department arrived at the house on Cress Road in Lexington, 60 miles northeast of Charlotte, at around 7:30 a.m. ET after being alerted by an anonymous caller.

The deputies forced entry into the cage and rushed the child to the EMS personnel who arrived on the scene to assist, the sheriff's said in a news conference Thursday, noting that the night-time temperature in the county had dipped to 28 degrees.

The cops had to also force their way inside the house "due to the exigent circumstances" and found one adult female, later identified as Sarah Star, and two other children, who were also rushed to a hospital but had no visible injuries.

Police arrested three persons in connection with the incident, WFMY-TV reported. The detainees were the child's parents Jonathan and Sarah Star, and Shelly Barnes, who is the children's aunt, according to Charlotte Observer.

Jonathan and Sarah were charged with felony child abuse, misdemeanor child abuse, and false imprisonment, while Barnes was facing similar charges apart from two additional ones: possession of a firearm by a felon, and maintaining a dwelling place for controlled substances, Charlotte Observer reported citing officials.

The Davidson County Social Services have taken protective custody of all three children. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Sarah's bonds were increased from $30,000 to $100,000, while Barnes' bond was also raised to $300,000 from $60,000.

Barnes and the Stars made their first court appearance Thursday.

In September, an Ohio couple was arrested after their 3-year-old child was found locked inside a bug-infested cage while a 2-year-old was found with a meth pipe. Cops reached the residence after a woman complained she was being robbed by the couple, Franklin Varney, 38, and Megan Smith, 25. They found the little child locked inside a filthy cage using zip ties. Cops also arrested the grandmother, identified as 61-year-old Ella Webb, who had their legal custody. The detainees were charged with felony endangering children and may face additional charges.

handcuff
Representational image Pixabay