The father of two young boys is in the Pike County jail charged with the torture and willful abuse of a child.

Joseph Matthew Johnson, 24, 1009 County Road 2250 off the Henderson Highway, was also charged with domestic violence third degree.

Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said the sheriff’s department was notified of a possible abuse situation by the Troy Regional Medical Center emergency room.

Investigator Frank Wheeler reported that the incident apparently stemmed from water being on the floor in the hallway of the Johnson home.

“Johnson became angry and grabbed the boys, ages two and three, and pushed them to the floor and rubbed their faces and bodies in the water to mop it up,” Wheeler said. “He slapped them in the face and abused the three-year-old to the extent of breaking his arm. He also slapped his wife and is charged with harassment against her.”

Thomas said the three-year-old was treated at the emergency room at Troy Regional Medical. The younger boy had bruising but was not treated at the hospital.

“The children were removed from the home by the Department of Human Resources,” Thomas said. “The incident remains under investigation.”