Police: Pa. Woman Beat Child Over Clogged Toilet

LEHIGHTON, Pa. (AP) — A northeastern Pennsylvania woman is behind bars after police said she beat her child with a baseball bat because of a clogged toilet.

Police say Christine Mertz from Mahoning Township hit the child twice on the right side with a baseball bat and had also twice bitten and punched the juvenile.

The child's age and gender have not been released. Police said the child's sibling witnessed the April 27 assault and said it was because of a backed-up toilet.

Mertz is charged with child endangerment, simple assault and harassment. She is currently in the Carbon County prison on unrelated charges.

A preliminary hearing is set for May 21.

It couldn't be determined if she had an attorney.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)