IDAHO FALLS, ID – An Idaho man is behind bars after allegedly throwing a bowl of hot soup on his 3-month-old child and rubbing chili oil in a woman’s eyes during a domestic disturbance that left multiple people injured.
Carlos Swearingen, 23, was arrested Tuesday night after Bonneville County police responded to reports of a woman screaming and running from an apartment. What officers found inside painted a disturbing picture of violence that targeted even the youngest and most vulnerable.
According to the victim’s account, Swearingen had been drinking throughout the night and making threats against family members. When the woman expressed disapproval of his behavior, he allegedly snapped.
“He took a bowl with onions, hot dumplings, and hot chili oil and threw it at his 3-month-old,” the woman told investigators, according to court documents.
As she tried to clean the scalding soup off the infant, Swearingen allegedly came up behind her, rubbed hot chili oil in her eyes, and grabbed her hair. The woman said he continued striking her head as she desperately tried to rinse her burning eyes.
The assault didn’t stop even when she picked up the baby and begged him to quit. Swearingen allegedly told her he “didn’t give a f**k” and kept attacking. She eventually placed the infant with her 5-year-old child and assumed a defensive position on the floor to protect herself.
When officers arrived, they found Swearingen covered in fresh scratches and wearing only his underwear. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Prosecutors have charged Swearingen with attempted strangulation, injury to a child, domestic battery without traumatic injury, and domestic battery or assault in the presence of a child. His bond was set at $75,000.
The conditions of the infant and other victims were not immediately released, though all survived the attack.
