An 18-month-old child was accidentally hit with probes from a Taser Wednesday after a Sc?huylkill Haven man held him while he was fighting with police.

Schuylkill Haven, Orwigsburg and Penn State police responded to the 600 block of North Garfield Avenue for Joshua King, 35, at his parents’ apartment for a second time. He “barged” into their apartment, saying his son was hungry.

King was found upstairs, refusing to open a door. Police removed the door. King later went to another room, pushed and kicked police when they tried to remove his son. Police were eventually successful but not before two probes from a Taser hit the child in the upper left leg. The boy was evaluated by medical personnel.

Schuylkill Haven Police Chief Jeffrey Walcott said Friday the boy was taken to the hospital, evaluated and discharged. He said the probes entering the skin are like a “needle.”

Walcott said Orwigsburg patrolman Brandon Bayer was the one whose Taser deployed and hit the child.

“He immediately disabled the Taser,” Walcott said, adding it was done within one second after deployment.

The probes were close together instead of spread far apart, proving less effective, he said.

“It could have been a lot worse. It’s very unfortunate,” he said of the potential for a more tragic outcome involving the child.

He said the incident is being reviewed in house as is standard protocol during a use of force incident and by the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s office. Walcott said he also has to speak with the other officers involved.

King was hit five times with a Taser before finally being arrested. He continually pulled out the darts. At one point, he ran outside, refused commands and was hit was a Taser again. He ran past Skook Auto Sales, was found in a yard, and tried to enter a house. He opened an unlocked vehicle, threw a toolbox at officers and then locked the doors. Police broke the driver’s side windows to gain entry. King exited the passenger door and a Taser was deployed again before he was arrested.

He is Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail. He is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, aggravated assault, simple assault, endangering the welfare of children, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person.