Melvin Morse
Melvin Morse of Georgetown, Delaware has been detained and charged with reckless endangerment for allegedly waterboarding his young daughter while the girl's mother watched. Delaware State Police

Melvin Morse of Georgetown, Delaware has been detained and charged with reckless endangerment for allegedly waterboarding his young daughter while the girl's mother watched.

According to NBC 5 in Dallas Fort-Worth, the investigation began after police were informed of a domestic assault that happened back on July 12. During the incident, Morse, a 58-year-old doctor, allegedly grabbed his 11-year-old daughter by the ankle, dragged her across their gravel driveway, brought her inside his home and began spanking her.

Four days later, Morse was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child as well as assault. He was released after posting $750 secured bail, the news station reports.

While her father was being charged and processed, police say the 11-year-old girl was brought to the Child Advocacy Center. In an interview with the center, police say he claimed she was disciplined by her father by what he referred to as "waterboarding."

The girl then reportedly detailed how her father held her face under a running faucet, causing water to go up her nose and all over her face.

The 11-year-old told police in chilling detail about the alleged abuse, according to court documents obtained by Delaware newspaper The News Journal.

The girl said her father said "she could go five minutes without brain damage," the newspaper reported, citing court documents.

She went on to claim that she suffered this form of punishment four times over the course of two years, beginning in May 2009.

In addition, the girl told authorities that her mother, Pauline Morse, 40, witnessed a few of the waterboarding incidents and did not stop her husband from performing the act.

Both parents were arrested in their home earlier this week and charged with reckless endangerment, conspiracy and endangering the welfare of a child, NBC 5 reports.

While Melvin Morse was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $14,500 secured bond, his wife was released on $14,500 unsecured bond.

Both parents were ordered to have no contact with each other or their children as the girl and her siblings are currently in the care of the Division of Family Services.