11-year-old hospitalized after Florida man drags him to filthy swimming pool for forced baptism

A 51-year-old Florida man was arrested and charged with child abuse for allegedly attacking an 11-year-old boy because he said God wanted him to.

According to WFTV-TV, Henry L. Love told investigators that "he was awoken from his sleep by God" and told to baptize the boy, who was staying with him.

The suspect then allegedly ordered the boy to strip down to his underwear before dragging him to a swimming pool belonging to his neighbor, which was described by investigators as "filthy with algae and bugs."

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that Love then dunked the boy's head in the pool several times against his will, while telling him that he was being baptized.

Love allegedly repeated his allegation to the pool owner, who said they saw the suspect walking with the boy after the incident and described the boy as "soaking wet."

The boy's mother, who had left the boy in Love's care earlier that day, took him to a hospital that night to treat eye and ear infections.

Following his arrest, Love was booked into Volusia County jail, where he was held without bail.