There Are So Many Things Wrong in this Story

The headline on my ISP homepage reads "Girl, 9, Cuffed and Arrested." The link leads to a MSNBC posted story from AP with this headline.  “Girl, 9, cuffed and arrested over missing bunny." The sub headline reads "Florida police defend detention, say it was at request of victim."

Let’s take a look at the article.  Here’s the opening.

"A 9-year-old girl accused of stealing a rabbit and $10 from a neighbor’s home was arrested, handcuffed and questioned at a police station."

Stealing is wrong, and further into the article, you can read how the 9 year old girl, I think, realizes this because she admits taking the rabbit, but not the 10 bucks.

The second paragraph.

"A Pasco County sheriff’s deputy found the black-and-white rabbit, named Oreo, hopping around in the girl’s living room, according to the arrest report. She was read her rights and taken away in the back of a patrol car."

Great.  The absconded property has been located.  Return the bunny to the next door neighbor girl, lecture the 9 year old a bit, and her mother, and then let the situation be handled by the girl’s mother, rather than handcuffing, reading the girl her Miranda rights, and hauling the kid away.

What does the sheriff’s department have to say about the arrest?

"Sheriff’s spokesman Kevin Doll defended the arrest, and said if the victim of a crime wants an arrest, deputies are required to act if there is enough evidence."

Just following orders and procedures, citizens.

"Lori Ventura, the mother of the child who owns the rabbit, said the girl has been involved in other incidents and needs help."

Indeed.  The problem here, is, the mom is basically admitting she is a rotten parent and is denying her own rights and responsibilities as parent.  She is acknowledging she is a slave to the state and abrogating the welfare of her daughter, her right, to the state also.

I can only shake my head in disgust at the lack of rationality in all the individuals involved.  Well, except for the 9 year old girl.  I can understand her lacking rationality, and a sound moral compass, but at least she admitted her wrongdoing.

Posted by on 04/09 at 05:17 AM

  1. No matter how cynical I get, it’s never enough.

    Posted by gary  on  04/09  at  05:33 PM

  2. You’re not reading history, Gary. The Kissing Case.

    Posted by John Lopez  on  04/09  at  07:47 PM

  3. John - thanks for linking to “The Kissing Case.” I was not aware of this event.  Interesting to note Jesse Helms’ dad mention in the story thread of examples of racist attitudes prevalent at that time.

    Posted by  on  04/10  at  03:28 AM

  4. Well, Mr Lopez, citing fifty-year-old racism as a failing of my knowledge of history is pretty elitist, don’t you think?  The other assumption seems to be that what was, is, and always must be.

    That’s even more cynical than me!  If Dorothy Parker were still with us, I’m sure she could direct you to a gas oven cure for hopelessness.  Stay away from the microwave ones, though.  You might end up lung.

    Posted by gary  on  04/10  at  09:08 AM

  5. “Well, Mr Lopez, citing fifty-year-old racism as a failing of my knowledge of history is pretty elitist, don’t you think? “

    I’m very much an elitist. However, I don’t think less of you.

    “That’s even more cynical than me!”

    ‘I used to be cynical, but I found I couldn’t keep up.’

    “...I’m sure she could direct you to a gas oven cure for hopelessness.”

    What, and miss out on the show?

    “You might end up lung.”

    lung has my utmost respect. Adorable yet terrifying, that one.

    Posted by John Lopez  on  04/10  at  09:28 AM

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