Glendale police arrested a suspect on charges of tying his stepson up with ropes.

Mto Assa, 37 of Glendale, was arrested on felony charges of child abuse, aggravated assault and unlawful imprisonment. Police reported June 9 that Assa had allegedly restrained his 14-year-old stepson by binding his hands and feet with ropes and then physically assaulted him causing visible injuries.

Just before 10:30 p.m. June 8, in the 4400 block of Ocotillo Road, the teenage boy fled to a neighbor’s apartment and asked for help. His hands and feet were still bound with ropes. The victim disclosed that his stepfather allegedly tied his hands behind his back and bound his ankles, and then connected the ropes together.

The boy stated he was allegedly struck and physically assaulted. He said his younger sister was able to free one of his feet so he could run for help. She attempted to release his wrists, but the ropes were too tight for her to untie. The neighbor said they cut the ropes from the boy’s wrists while waiting for officers.

The mother had filed a police report on the teen as a runaway on June 8. The boy had returned home and said during the assault his stepfather allegedly told him he would keep him tied up for the next year.

Assa admitted to detectives that he tied the boy up, but denied any assault occurred.

The forensic nurse recorded injuries consistent with the allegations made by the teen.