A Californian five-year-old was handcuffed and charged with battery after allegedly kicking a police officer in the knee. Michael Davis had his hands tied behind his back with zip ties and was driven in a police car to psychiatric hospital after apparently lashing out at the officer during a meeting at his primary school.
Michael had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and his teachers suggested that he meet with a school police officer, Lieutenant Frank Gordo, in the hope that a uniformed presence might curb his disruptive behaviour. According to a police report, Lt Gordo put his hand on Michael's and "the boy pushed my hand away in a batting motion, pushed papers off the table, and kicked me in the right knee".
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The officer said Michael refused to calm down and so his hands and feet were secured with zip ties of the sort used to restrain violence criminals. Without informing the boy's parents, Lt Gordo drove him in the back of his police car to Stockton Kaiser Psychiatric Hospital for an evaluation.
His mother, Thelma, said she "was led to believe that Michael saw a police officer and attacked a police officer on sight," and only learned that he had been handcuffed several weeks later after reading the report. One charge of battery on a police officer was later dropped by a juvenile court.
4 comments:
The level of response was disproportionate, but a five year old needs to learn that his actions have consequences.
This kid can not go through life attacking other people. Had he done that in my early school days, he'd have been smacked by the teacher, and most likely by his parents too.
He'd probably think twice about doing it again.
That always seemed to work better than ritalin and with fewer side effects.
So a five year old child kicked a big tough police officer ??? Hope the officer didn't cry. What a joke.
Lt. Gordo should be ashamed.
I understand them trying to make the child a little scared, then he would be a little more careful t react out. However this was taking to far.. Under law the cop had a right to handcuff the child as he would any one, do to the cop being attacked. Like it or not he was attacked However Most cops would have laughed an called the parents into it.. I think that was the main thing they failed on in this case ! The child was under age, the parents should have been called in.. Now most arrested do not get a call till they get to the precinct, However they did not go straight to the police,but to a Psych hospital.. I think welfare worker should have beeen called first to let the child be safe..Not go off alone with a Cop..The child could have been sexually asaulted or hurt if the cop was not a GOOD COP. I think the precinct ,judge, welfare, an city lawyers need to look at this case closely that they could do better ! An I think the parents SHOULD SUE... Only way to get things better in their community !
Under UK law a child can not be held criminally responsible, so he could not be arrested here.
The reported police action, of arrest, restraint, and removal to a psychiatric unit seems hard to believe.
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