CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Police arrested a man accused of tattooing a 13-year-old boy and advertising his work on the boy on social media.
Police say they are seeing more minors getting tattoos, even though it's against the law to tattoo anyone under 18 unless authorized by a doctor.
Officers arrested Darius Hunter, 20. He faces charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and tattooing.
"Clayton County officers responded to an anonymous tip in reference to a minor being tattooed," said Officer Charlene Watson Fraser, with the Clayton County Police Department.
Officers say that tip led them to a home near Jonesboro, where they say the 13-year-old was tattooed on his chest.
Channel 2's Tom Jones was in court when Hunter went before a judge.
"You tattooed the minor by placing a tattoo on the chest of the said minor without the consent of the parents," Clayton County Magistrate Court Judge Beatriz Scott said.
When Jones went by the home where police say the tattooing took place, a man told Jones nothing illegal went on there.
"The kid who they claim got tattooed doesn't stay here. They didn't get no tattoos from this house or none of that," the man, who didn't want to be identified, said.
Police confirmed the child was tattooed at the home.
Officers say Hunter had no business license and didn't have a permit from the County Board of Health.
They say not having a permit really puts minors, or anyone, in danger.
"You never know if they're using sterile equipment because they could be transferring all kinds of diseases through unsterile equipment," Fraser said.
Police say more charges are on the way for Hunter. He is being held in lieu of a $5,000 bond.
WSBTV
