US man accused of keeping five-year-old in secret compartment of closet arrested

A northwest Arkansas man, accused of keeping a five-year-old girl in a secret compartment in his closet, has been arrested. The arrest was made after the police found the child in the closet which was nailed shut. The authorities said that police officers were there to assist the state officials who were trying to take custody of the minor.

Last week on Thursday, police officers paid a visit to the man's house so that they could help DHS take custody of the girl. But he denied that she was there.

The man, identified as John Thompson and hailingfrom Tontitown, later agreed to show where the girl was when more police officers arrived.

As reported by local media outlets, police heard a banging noise when they went inside the home. Then the 40-year-oldled police into a closet and moved some boxes.

The incident report said: "Jon moved some boxes and then had to pull a board that was nailed to the wall to get access to a small space behind the closet wall."

"Jon admitted to concealing … inside the compartment so DHS would not take custody," it said.

As reported by NBC News, the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said Tuesday that Thompson was arrested Friday and accused of endangering the welfare of a minor, first-degree false imprisonment, interference with custody, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of body armour.