Parents Have Police Arrest Their Third-Grader For Stealing (Taken Out Of Class In Handcuffs)

[matcom]

<snip>

Shady Cove Police Chief Rick Mendenhall wants everyone to know that criminal behavior has tough consequences.

That's why, at the request of parents, he took a third-grade girl at Shady Cove Elementary School out of class in handcuffs and home to her mother for a talk about theft this week.

Mendenhall said the parents, whom he declined to identify to protect the girl's privacy, asked him to "arrest" their daughter after she was caught stealing for a second time.

"The parents are trying to instill responsibility and show consequences," he said. "This was my first request like this, but I would do it for any parent."

On Tuesday, Mendenhall went to a third-grade classroom, handcuffed the girl, whose age Mendenhall didn't have, and took her home in a police car. No charges were filed, he said. He and the girl's mother warned the youngster that if she continued to steal, she really would be arrested and have to face theft charges in the juvenile justice system.

"If we can show people consequences for their actions and keep them out of the criminal justice system, I'm going to do it," Mendenhall said.

He said the family that requested his help has had its struggles.

The father is a recovering meth addict who has gotten his life back on track. The girl is a middle child in a large group of siblings, and police have contacted her before about thefts, he said.

"I was trying to help them along," he said.

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2007/0323/local/stories/shady_cove_child_arrest.htm

[sasquatch]

1. That's it, Florida loses it's local authority on anything

[Mojambo]

2. If they wanted her to get the REAL police experience they should have broke out the taser. n/t

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. I was put in the back of a police car when I was in the 3rd grade

Some vandals had painted graffiti on a wall at the local school, and for reasons unknown they put my name on it (I was NOT involved). A sheriff came out to the house, put me into the back seat of his car, and questioned me about it.

It took about five minutes or so to be "released", and I remember being more confused and pissed that some asshole had me on their mind while doing their deed. Also a bit of secret delight was in the back of my mind, to be truthful. I'd never been in that kind of trouble before, and I'd never been noticed by anyone!

A bit different from handcuffs and a perp walk from your school room, admittedly, but I can still say I've been there. That happened in 1964.