TACOMA -- Sheriff's deputies on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for a man suspected of torturing a young boy who was abandoned at a trailer park over the weekend.

Investigators are looking for Todd "TJ" Booth, who is believe to be responsible for assaulting and burning the 18-month-old boy. Booth also goes by the name Todd Morrow and has an extensive criminal history.

Officials said the 23-year-old man should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and charges.

Investigators believe Booth is the boy's mother's "pimp," and it may have been fear of this man that prompted all parties involved to lie and stall in order to protect themselves.

"The guy has hurt other people before. He's armed himself before. He's made threats to other people, and now it appears that even an infant is not immune to his wrath," said Pierce County Det. Ed Troyer. "(He's) somebody we want picked up."

The child was brought to the attention of police after a young woman named Printess Williams dropped him off at Mary Bridge Hospital on Sunday.

Williams initially told investigators a "gang member" whom she didn't know had abandoned the boy outside her mobile home after threatening to kill the baby.

But on Tuesday, investigators said they believe the boy's mother brought him over to Williams' home in order to get him away from Booth's abuse.

Williams said the boy appeared to be in bad shape.

"He had lumps on his head, you know, bruises on his chest, the bottom of his foot was burned," she said. "He was all shaky. He wouldn't let anyone touch him because every time you'd pick him up, every time you'd touch him, 'owie, owie, owie.'"

But instead of calling 911 right away, Williams said she kept the boy, whose name is Javay, for two days before finally taking him to a hospital.

Williams' mother, Trenecia Holmes, said she and her daughter tried to take care of the boy themselves. But she said she eventually gave up and took him to the hospital.

"Actually at the point of me seeing the burn on the bottom of the baby's foot, I was like 'Wow, somebody deliberately did this.' Because the baby was walking, and he was walking on his toes."

Holmes said a man, who swore he had nothing to do with the abuse, called her to check on the baby. He refused to reveal the man's name or his connection of the baby.

"I think the main concern right now for me is the baby is alive, and that he didn't die on my keep," she said. "Because I didn't do anything; I just tried to help."

When Williams finally did take him to the hospital, deputies were called. Troyer said the boy appeared to have suffered significant torture.

On Tuesday the boy, who was initially believed to be 22 months old, was released from the hospital and was recovering in state care.

Investigators believe no one will start telling the truth until Booth is locked up.

"We unraveled some of the lies, and we've gotten some of the truths. So now everybody has a different story, and they're starting to match up more with what we believe happened," said Troyer.

Detectives said everyone who told them a lie could be charged, including the mother, who could face child abandonment charges.

Detectives interviewed the boy's mother early Tuesday, but Troyer said no arrests had been made and deputies are continuing their search for Booth.

Anyone with information about Booth is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.