Detectives arrested a Salem man today who's accused of using a dog shock collar on his four children.

Investigators said Todd Marcum, 41, admitted shocking the children -- ages 3, 6, 8 and 9 -- at least once because he thought it was funny, said Lt. Dave Okada, a Salem Police Department spokesman.Marcum also chased his 3-year-old son with the collar, making him cry at the thought of being shocked, they said.

He was booked into the Marion County Jail on four counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment.

The children are now in their mother's custody. Detectives referred the case to the state Department of Human Services.

-- Casey Parks; caseyparks@news.oregonian.com