PD: Man burned son for touching his bible in Chandler

CHANDLER, AZ - Chandler police say he took a lighter to his own son's hands, but that man's mother claims a legal substance is to blame.

Twenty-five-year-old Johnny Salazar was arrested by officers Sunday, accused in a bizarre case of child abuse.

"He's a good kid," said Salazar's mother. "Never been charged with anything. Never been in trouble."

Chandler police say Johnny Salazar used a cigarette lighter to burn his 5-year-old son's hands and wrists for touching his Bible.

Investigators claim Johnny thought his son may be posessed.

"He thought my grandson, by touching (the Bible), was causing power to come out of it," said Connie Salazar.

Connie Salazar tells ABC15 her son had taken bath salts.

You can buy bath salts at several different smoke shops throughout the Valley and even though the package states "not for human consumption" people snort and inject bath salts to get high.

"He kept saying he was seeing demons," said Connie Salazar. "The demons were trying to get him and we were trying to poison him. It's the drug. It's the drug."

After seeing the burns to her son, Connie Salazar says the boy's mother called Chandler police who arrested Johnny Salazar on one count of child abuse.

At the time of his arrest, investigators claim Johnny Salazar was talking gibberish.

"It's the drug because my son has never been like that," said Connie Salazar.

Connie Salazar wants other parents to know about the dangers of bath salts and how easily kids and adults can get their hands on the drug here in the Valley.

"I want people to know my son is a good son and this drug has destroyed a lot of children and people need to do something about it," said Connie Salazar.

Thankfully, Connie Salazar tells ABC15 her grandson's burns are not serious and he's going to be just fine.