Should 7 year old need to get arrested and booked like a hardened criminal?

Question

OK, I am from Baltimore City. It is not illegal to own a dirt bike, but it is illegal to ride one on city streets, or city parks. The little boy was sitting on a brand new dirt bike his mom bought him. He was sitting on the sidewalk on the front of his house. The police then grabbed him off of the bike, and took him to Central Bookings, one of the worst places to be in Baltimore, even for a criminal.

Today on the news the Police commissioner stated that they completely followed the procedures when it came to the child and they did nothing wrong.

Now, I cant see why they didn't just have some compassion for the child and leave him alone. The motor was not turned on, and he was on his property. Am I wrong for being on the child's side?

Here is the link to the story:


http://www.examiner.com/a-619947~Busted__7_year_old_cuffed__fingerprinted.html

Just for clarification: The mother of the child was near her son and the dirt bike was not the size of the kind you may be thining of. It is more like a miniature one. It stands about 2-3 feet tall, the perfect size for a child.

Also, the mayor states that it is legal to own one as lone as you dont ride it in city limits, however, there is a hotline established where you can report people who own one (even if they never take it out, it could be stored in a garage), and the police will confiscate it. I just dont see the sense in that.

Also, if someone is caught riding one, it is illegal for the police to pursue them for the safety of the neighborhoods. So should the boy have started it up and rode it down the street so they wouldn't pursue him? (rhetorical)

The way the houses are lined up, there is no porch, its kind of hard to explain, but the whole front, incliding the steps are a part of the sidewalk. He was next to his steps in front of the house.

Answer 1

Hell no you're not wrong! That was WAY beyond the pale, in my opinion.

Those officers should be ashamed of themselves.

The one thing in their favor, however, is that if he was on the sidewalk in front of his house, he was NOT on his property. The sidewalk is owned by the city.

Sandy

Answer 2

The kid had no business being on the dirt bike. Because the kid didn't start it up and kill himself and others, you think they were too harsh. Not at all, you would be the first one crying and complaining how the police were not there when needed because they allowed this horrible event. And what of the parents? Why aren't you concerned about the parents, who should be supervising the child at that age at all times. I think the police have done a stellar job here and helped to prevent this kid from turning into a bad kid. He did do something wrong, he has stupid parents that allowed him to do that. It makes me sick the number of parents who let their kids wander around and do whatever they pleased unsupervised putting the burden on others and the police to do their job. What is the mother's excuse? Was she talking on the cell phone to her friend? Watching TV? Or taking a nap? The police did the right thing. No mention of the mother saying to the child, "Get down from there!".
You are allowing the newspaper (media) to add DRAMA to a story when none is there. No photos of the brothers and sisters of those killed by kids on dirt bikes in the story if you will notice.
You also don't have the full story, the kid was likely riding before the police were called or has in the past. They should arrest the mother for child endangerment. If the parents aren't going to education people how to behave, the job is up to the police. The police did a great job here by stopping a serious problem BEFORE it happen!!!

Answer 3

That is a bit much. The police probably should have talked with his mother and made it clear that it was illegal rather than hauling the poor kid off to jail like that. You would think a 7 yr old would be allowed some leeway. IMO the parents should be liable for crimes of children that young. What makes this situation worse is that he was just sitting on it, not even riding it. For all the police know he could have been sitting on it while waiting to load it into a car. Its a messy situation, of which no good can come.

Answer 4

The point of humiliation at the concept of being arrested regardless of guilt or innocent; proceeds the logical; rational thought process of a child.

The reasons why we have penalties, is to teach, retard growth of future criminal activities. Psychologically, a seven year old doesn't have to cognitive skills to interpret what has gone wrong.

Shame on the officers and city administration involved. If I were a taxpayer of Baltimore; I would be angry that my funds went to arrest a child; and not a child molester.

Answer 5

i'm chuffed I stay in Canada, right here no one decrease than the age of 12 may be charged with an offence (hence no mug shot or fingerprinting). driving a airborne dirt and dirt motorbike on a sidewalk isn't an arrestable offence right here in Ontario, so this would not have occurred. **purely a observe, if he became on the sidewalk, he wasn't on his belongings

Answer 6

This is one time when I say sick Jessee Jackson and Sharpton on their azzes.

Like that one black lady cop who pushed that skateboarding kid into the bushes.
Thats assault!

And because its a police officer, thats illegal use of force, or pretty darn close to it.

The funny thing is that you have Alex Baldwin all over the news ranting to his kids cell phone when you should have this travesty all over the news instead.

We should all pitch in start a fund and hire Johnny Cochran to sue their azzes off

Answer 7

Just seems to be the way things are now, no one gets a break any more. Use to be a time when you could ride a bike any where and if a 7 year old did something wrong they would just get a good talking too.

Answer 8

As a mother I will tell you, I would have went to jail that day myself, because I would have beat the S#IT out of some cops! Sounds like the ones involved need different jobs! & it better not have anything to do with children.

Answer 9

We obiviously have a double standard in our society. I suppose if the police traumatizes a child, as long as it is the policy, it isn't child abuse.

Shame of that police officer for not using common sense. How sad.

Answer 10

That is crazy. I would think that there is something in place to not treat children as felony criminals. That should of been a ticket for the parents at most.