Nashville Dad Force Fed Son Hot Sauce, Hit Him With Pole: Police

NASHVILLE, TN -- Apparently displeased with his son's push-ups and sit-ups, a Nashville man force fed the 10-year-old habanero sauce and hit him with a lobster snare, according to Metro Police.

The staff at Donelson's Pennington Elementary School called Metro Police Tuesday suspecting abuse. During an interview, the 10-year-old said the night before, his father, 39-year-old Christopher Aschnewitz, forced him to do push-ups when he couldn't finish his dinner.

The push-ups not being to Aschnewitz's "liking," he then forced his son to do sit-ups instead, the boy reportedly told officers. Those apparently not meeting his standards either, Aschnewitz allegedly forced the boy to eat a teaspoon of habanero sauce as "motivation," promising the boy a drink of water if he completed the exercises.

The boy also told investigators that his father said if he vomited, he would be forced to eat the vomit.

The boy was unable to complete the exercises and he told police Aschnewitz then hit him in the buttocks several times with a three-foot lobster snare, finally sending him to bed around midnight.

Aschnewitz is charged with aggravated child abuse. He is free on bail.

Photo via Metro Nashville Police