6 Year Old Arrested for "Temper Tantrum"

[Seifer]

I put "temper tantrum" in quotes because from the article it sounds more like the child had a psychotic break.

According to the article, the 6 year old was destroying school property, throwing objects at the principal (and the principal was actually hit in the leg by a shelf at one point due to the child's actions) and even tried to fight with the police officer when he tried to calm her down. The police officer stated that he tried to contact the mother 6 times before finally hand-cuffing the child and taking her to the police station.

Of course the parents are up in arms that their precious angel was arrested during a "mood swing." As the mother stated, "She has mood swings some days, which all of us have mood swings some days," she told WMAZ-TV. "I guess that was just one of her bad days."

Call me crazy, but no matter their age, if someone is posing a danger to others and destroying property, they need to be taken from the situation. If the parents/guardians can't be reached, then the police (who are keepers of the peace) have to step in and remove the person causing problems. I'm surprised the idiot parents aren't shouting "lawsuit", but maybe they're waiting until they can find a lawyer who doesn't laugh them out of the office.

[crashhelmet]

not knowing what this child's home environment is like or what had happened to set her off like that, it's difficult to really make any kind of judgement on the child.

However, I agree with the police handcuffing her. There's no telling what she may have tried within the squad car while unrestrained.

[HYHYBT]

That "all of us" line is downright scary. "All of us" do have variations in mood, true. But the implication is that all of us, therefore, should be allowed to wreak havoc when the mood strikes. I can only hope she doesn't practice what she preaches... and hope to be far away if she does.

[anakhouri]

I saw this earlier; I don't know the extent of the damage or how badly she harmed anyone else, but I'm not sure you should charge a kid with a crime in this situation.

Handcuff her? I am OK with that. A 6-year-old, depending on her size, could cause a lot of harm to herself and others if she was really as berserk as the police claim. My son is 2 and I would have trouble restraining him if he was to flip out (he is tall and strong for his age),

As for the parents...'mood swings' don't really cover this sort of 'tantrum'. Hopefully this will be a wake-up call that she needs professional help of some kind. I see toddler s throwing tantrums out of frustration all the time, but if a kid hasn't learned to handle their emotions better by the time they are in school, they need help. If those parents are worth their salt they should be contacting the school like, yesterday to figure out what went wrong and create a plan of intervention should she go off like this again.

[Rebel]

It sounds doubtful that the child will be charged for any type of crime, primarily due to the age.
That said, I do hope CPS is assigned to the case. If the child acts like this a lot of the time, as the parents attested to, then the home life should come under question. A child does not get a free pass on purposely physically harming someone and destroying property.

Another thought, the child could be tested for any sort of mental or developmental problems. There could be a chance that the child has some form of autism. If that was the case, the parents should be made to address this and take steps to help the child.

[bara]

That was way beyond tantrum.

That kid needs some help she certainly isn't receiving at home and I dont think we can expect the school to have the type of help the child needs on hand.

From the article:
Johnson's aunt, Candace Ruff, said the girl "might have misbehaved, but I don't think she actually misbehaved to the point that she should have been handcuffed and taken downtown to the police department."
"Call the police? Is that the first step? Or is there any other kind of intervention that can be taken to help that child," she asked.

Of course there is a first step. Its called parenting.
I doubt very seriously this is the first time this child had an outburst like this. Its possible though.

[Seifer]

I saw this earlier; I don't know the extent of the damage or how badly she harmed anyone else, but I'm not sure you should charge a kid with a crime in this situation.

I can understand letting her off with a warning, because honestly, I think just being hand-cuffed and taken to the police station was enough of a wake-up call for the little girl. That's some serious stuff to go through if you're six, and she'll probably remember that trip in the squad car next time she has a "mood swing."

Personally, I agree that CPS needs to get involved. If the child needs to be tested for behavior disorders or other ailments than CPS can make sure it happens. If the child is being mistreated (not saying she is, just "what it"), then CPS can handle that, too.

Obviously something is wrong if the child is so out of control that she poses a threat to others.

[Andara Bledin]

Considering the amount of damage and attempted damage (she was biting the doorknob at one point) this girl attempted, I don't blame them for taking her out of the school environment. At that point, she was a danger to herself as well as others.

^-.-^

[Gravekeeper]

Per CNN:

According to the police report, Johnson's combative behavior included throwing furniture, including a small shelf, which struck the principal on the leg. The child was also observed "biting the doorknob of the office and jumping on the paper shredder. "The report stated Johnson also "attempted to break a glass frame above the shredder."

Thats way beyond a tantrum and I agree with the cops handcuffing her for her own safety at that point. Unless mom would like her precious snowflake bleeding out into a paper shredder. -.-

[fireheart17]

Another thought, the child could be tested for any sort of mental or developmental problems. There could be a chance that the child has some form of autism. If that was the case, the parents should be made to address this and take steps to help the child.

While labelling and/or diagnosing the child might be the way to go, the vibe I got from the family was that if she WAS labelled as such, they would be more likely to use the label as an excuse to let their child run riot and not actually get her the help she needs.

Personally, I agree that CPS needs to get involved. If the child needs to be tested for behavior disorders or other ailments than CPS can make sure it happens. If the child is being mistreated (not saying she is, just "what it"), then CPS can handle that, too.

Oh hell yes, I 100% agree. Definitely get her diagnosed and also have a look at the home environment.

Looking through the comments, quite a number of people seem to think it's bipolar.

And so many people seem to think that a lack of corporal punishment is the problem.....sure, the next time you get caught out speeding, we'll whip you in front of the general public. How about that? After all, actions have consequences and clearly a fine doesn't seem to be working. >.>

One of the comments towards the beginning of the article is making me think that the problem may be twofold: the first issue is an undiagnosed issue of some sort. I'm almost even considering fetal alcohol syndrome? The second issue is the parents-their attitude seems to be making excuses for her behaviour, not willing to get her the help she needs and that her daughter is a speshul little snowflake who can do no harm.

[Rapscallion]

And so many people seem to think that a lack of corporal punishment is the problem.....sure, the next time you get caught out speeding, we'll whip you in front of the general public. How about that? After all, actions have consequences and clearly a fine doesn't seem to be working. >.>

Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't seem as if there's a downside. Streaming TV on pay to view and it turns into a profitable enterprise.

Rapscallion

[Nyoibo]

Heinlein thught it would be a good idea.

I tend to agree with him.

[bara]

Heinlein thught it would be a good idea.

I tend to agree with him.

I like many of the ideas in that book.

[Mytical]

Can we add making retail people's life miserable to the list of crimes that justify public whippings? If so..I might just vote for that.

[blas87]

And people still think I'm a monster for thinking it'd be a good idea in nearly any setting to always have elephant tranquilizers nearby.

And I do mean, anywhere. Wal-Mart, schools, factories....oh, especially factories.