NORTHAMPTON - Police Wednesday arrested a Florence man who allegedly disciplined his 10-year-old son by making him hold a jug full of water over his head for 30 minutes.

Robert Rumrill, 29, of 1198 Burts Pit Road, pleaded innocent Thursday in Northampton District Court to charges of domestic assault and battery and reckless endangerment of a child.

Judge Mark Mason released Rumrill on his own recognizance, but ordered him not to physically abuse or discipline his son. Rumrill is due back in court Dec. 30 for a pretrial hearing.

Police said they notified the state Department of Children and Families after the incident, but it was unclear what action the agency took. Calls referred to an agency spokeswoman were not returned Thursday.

Rumrill's court-appointed attorney, Malcolm Smith, could not be reached for comment.

Police arrested Rumrill at home about 5 p.m. Wednesday after a neighbor reported seeing a boy kneeling on a deck outside the house and being splashed with water.

Officers who responded to the house questioned the boy, Rumrill and two other adults, according to court papers. Each said holding the jug was a form of punishment, according to police reports included in court files.

One person questioned said Rumrill had disciplined his son that day and at other times in the past by making the boy hold a jug full of water over his head for about 30 minutes, according to a report by Officer Andrew Kohl. The jug was later weighed at 8.34 pounds, Kohl wrote. Police noted it was about 40 degrees outside at the time of the incident.

Rumrill told another officer he used this method "because it worked last time," according to a police report.

The boy was inside eating dinner when the two officers arrived at the house. His hair was wet, the officers reported, and told them this was from water splashing out of the jug.