Stepdad held boy's head underwater during swim lesson, police say

L.A. County sheriff's officials say a man attempted to drown his 7-year-old son during a swimming lesson at a Palmdale pool.

Jacqorie Stansell was teaching his stepson to swim about 7 p.m. Sunday at the pool of an apartment complex in the 200 block of East Avenue R but grew frustrated because the boy wasn't learning quickly enough, officials said, according to KTLA-TV.

Stansell told investigators he repeatedly held the child's head underwater for as long as 15 seconds at a time. The boy almost drowned and paramedics were called in to revive him when he stopped breathing, authorities said. He was rushed to a hospital after rescuers got him breathing again.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Stansell on suspicion of attempted murder and cruelty to a child. His bail was set at $1 million.

The boy's mother and 2-year-old sister were in their apartment during the swimming lesson. Both children are now in protective custody, according to sheriff's officials.

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-- KTLA-TV