Ottawa parents want apology for son's handcuffing

parents were gone for a "short visit"

he's 10, stay at home, bring him with you or get a baby-sitter.

I've seen 9yr olds handcuffed before for shoplifting and things, he was put in the squad car because the parents were gone, it's their own damn fault, should blame themselves instead of the cops

at what age are kids legally allowed to be unsupervised at home?

10 years old is old enough to be left alone for short periods in their own house.

The conduct of the police officers was reprehensible and inexcusable. Their reaction to a noise complaint was beyond overkill and their subsequent treatment of the 10 year old was IMO criminal behaviour. The police should be charged with child endangerment and whatever misconduct rules they may have broken.

Handcuffing a 10 year old in his own house for a simple noise complaint?

Then the police wonder why they have a public relations problem.

how did they know it was a ten year old inside?


its sad that people would rather blame the people that are there to protect us as opposed to taking responsibility for their own actions

I have had police come to my door for a noise complaint amd they don't kick down the door, they knock.

In addition, even if you accept their initial actions as correct you certainly cannot accept their subsequent treatment of a scared 10 year old.

They knew damn well the noise complaint was a bunch of 10 YOs doing what 10 YOs do.

Would you rather they be out doing crack and vandalism?

The cops are wrong in every possible way so I'm sorry but appealing to the "they protect us" emotional argument holds no water.

If we cannot trust the police to act reasonably and responsibly then we cannot trust the police period.

Somehow I can visualize that the sounds coming from that apartment would resemble the kid getting castrated. That is probable cause to break down the door and enter with drawn guns.

We need to hear what the police are saying.

10 years old is not old enough to be left alone. What do you consider a short period?




The officers had no idea who was in the house. There could have easily been armed burglars in the house as opposed to a 10 year child. I don't think they needed to handcuff the child however.



How are the officers supposed to know that the child lives there?

The conduct of the cops was BANG ON!!

The parents are the problem here, not john law.

The police officers were obviously Liberal trained to patrol 10 year olds instead of hardened criminals.

I agree 100% up to the handcuffing of the child. If 2 officers cannot control and 10 year old then there is a problem. I agree he should have been shown the back seat of the police car as well. The parents are the ones who need to be charged with child endangerment/neglect.

Nothing will scare a kid better than being cuffed and put in a cruiser.

Being taught an easy lesson never hurt anyone.

Of course, this kid will not learn anything, because the parents are another case of "not my little Johnny!"

any kid that can't behave in front of a police officer, should not be left at home alone.