My 12 yr. old was at a classmates house which is across the street from a home that that was apparently burglarized and an X box 360 was stolen. For the last week one of the three full time officers from the small village where this occurred has put our family through hell. My son had no part in this apparent burglary but because he was with a friend who has had dealings with this officer and the juvenile Justice system (I found out he was recently arrested for assault by this officer when he was involved in a fight with a another child). my son appears to be guilty by association.
This officer questioned my son last Monday at the station, my husband and I were present. During the interrogation he had us all believing that they would both be going to the DH that evening if my son didn't tell him what had happened. Not having any knowledge of a burglary until we arrived at the police station, my son wasn't giving the officer the info he wanted. He made it clear that if my son would give a statement that his buddy did it we could leave and no charges against him would be filed. My son couldn't do this because he kept telling the officer he never saw his friend go into the house across the street, nor was there a period of time that evening that could not account for where his friend was. Finally the officer wrote several names down on a piece of paper, all of kids that were either with them or in the area that evening. He asked my son just to circle the name of one who would have been most likely to commit the crime. He circled his buddies name and we were sent on our way believing it was over. We arrived home and my son vomited.
The next day the school called because my son had thrown up 3 times during 1st period. Later the vice principal of the school called; unaware my son had been sent home from school. The officer was there and wanted to question my son. I told the vp to tell the officer I was contacting my attorney, and that I wasn't home, but if he needed to speak with my son my husband was at home with him. He went directly to our house and told my son and my husband not to worry about anything, that he was out of the situation now. I don't believe this was his intention when he showed up at the school.
Two days later he is back at our house, I am not home but my son and husband are. He tells them they need to come to the station immediately,my son is being charged and will be going to the detention home from there; all the officer has to do is finish the paperwork. I receive a call from my husband letting me know what is happening and some how I make it to the police station without getting into an accident; I was on my way inside when my phone rang. It was my husband, my son wasn't going to the DH now, but he may have to take a polygraph test next week. He told my son he has written statements from kids at school that say he has been telling people it was he who broke into the house. I don't believe this is true because he first said he had two and by the end of the conversation it had changed to four. I arrive home and vomit.
None of us know what to expect form this officer next. I know my son is innocent and I don't believe his friend had a thing to do with it either. We were told that the entire family of the home had left for the weekend around 6:30 pm. and a door was left unlocked, which is how whoever did this this got inside. We later found out that the parents may have left at 6:30 but the teenage boys were home and in and out all evening. There were other kids in the area that night also, not just my son and his buddy. My son doesn't like being home alone during the day, let alone walking into a house he is not familiar and at night!
It is a very small town with 3 full time officers (this includes the chief). I'm not sure what this very young police officer is doing or why, and I am not even sure if the chief of police is aware of any of this. I will not address this with him however, right now I can not trust any officer employed by the village.
I know that there is nothing we can do about the above tactics of the officer, or the stress he has caused for our family. I am just hoping he will eventually back down , as I want to believe that our counties prosecutor will not allow this to go any further, with lack of evidence as well as my son not having any kind of record.
The real question is about slander. The other night I was at the local service station when the same officer pulled in behind my car; I went inside and he continued on his way. When I left, he went into the station and told the clerk he had just busted my son for robbery!!!! I am so angry I don't even n ow what tom do right now!! I know juvenile records are to be sealed but can he do this??? My son hasn't even been charged with anything. Can he lie to a person who has no involvement in the investigation and tell them that he has busted a juvenile for robbery. Also, is there a reason he has used the word robbery with this clerk? All along we have been told if charged it is a burglary charge!]
I promised the clerk I wouldn't say anything to the police officer or the chief about what was said. He is afraid they will start hassling him, i.e. pulling him over for no good reason etc.. He does know however that if things continue I will be sharing this latest info or with my attorney, which he ifs fine with, if it goes any further.
Any advice would be appreciated, is it time to contact an attorney???
This officer questioned my son last Monday at the station, my husband and I were present. During the interrogation he had us all believing that they would both be going to the DH that evening if my son didn't tell him what had happened. Not having any knowledge of a burglary until we arrived at the police station, my son wasn't giving the officer the info he wanted. He made it clear that if my son would give a statement that his buddy did it we could leave and no charges against him would be filed. My son couldn't do this because he kept telling the officer he never saw his friend go into the house across the street, nor was there a period of time that evening that could not account for where his friend was. Finally the officer wrote several names down on a piece of paper, all of kids that were either with them or in the area that evening. He asked my son just to circle the name of one who would have been most likely to commit the crime. He circled his buddies name and we were sent on our way believing it was over. We arrived home and my son vomited.
The next day the school called because my son had thrown up 3 times during 1st period. Later the vice principal of the school called; unaware my son had been sent home from school. The officer was there and wanted to question my son. I told the vp to tell the officer I was contacting my attorney, and that I wasn't home, but if he needed to speak with my son my husband was at home with him. He went directly to our house and told my son and my husband not to worry about anything, that he was out of the situation now. I don't believe this was his intention when he showed up at the school.
Two days later he is back at our house, I am not home but my son and husband are. He tells them they need to come to the station immediately,my son is being charged and will be going to the detention home from there; all the officer has to do is finish the paperwork. I receive a call from my husband letting me know what is happening and some how I make it to the police station without getting into an accident; I was on my way inside when my phone rang. It was my husband, my son wasn't going to the DH now, but he may have to take a polygraph test next week. He told my son he has written statements from kids at school that say he has been telling people it was he who broke into the house. I don't believe this is true because he first said he had two and by the end of the conversation it had changed to four. I arrive home and vomit.
None of us know what to expect form this officer next. I know my son is innocent and I don't believe his friend had a thing to do with it either. We were told that the entire family of the home had left for the weekend around 6:30 pm. and a door was left unlocked, which is how whoever did this this got inside. We later found out that the parents may have left at 6:30 but the teenage boys were home and in and out all evening. There were other kids in the area that night also, not just my son and his buddy. My son doesn't like being home alone during the day, let alone walking into a house he is not familiar and at night!
It is a very small town with 3 full time officers (this includes the chief). I'm not sure what this very young police officer is doing or why, and I am not even sure if the chief of police is aware of any of this. I will not address this with him however, right now I can not trust any officer employed by the village.
I know that there is nothing we can do about the above tactics of the officer, or the stress he has caused for our family. I am just hoping he will eventually back down , as I want to believe that our counties prosecutor will not allow this to go any further, with lack of evidence as well as my son not having any kind of record.
The real question is about slander. The other night I was at the local service station when the same officer pulled in behind my car; I went inside and he continued on his way. When I left, he went into the station and told the clerk he had just busted my son for robbery!!!! I am so angry I don't even n ow what tom do right now!! I know juvenile records are to be sealed but can he do this??? My son hasn't even been charged with anything. Can he lie to a person who has no involvement in the investigation and tell them that he has busted a juvenile for robbery. Also, is there a reason he has used the word robbery with this clerk? All along we have been told if charged it is a burglary charge!]
I promised the clerk I wouldn't say anything to the police officer or the chief about what was said. He is afraid they will start hassling him, i.e. pulling him over for no good reason etc.. He does know however that if things continue I will be sharing this latest info or with my attorney, which he ifs fine with, if it goes any further.
Any advice would be appreciated, is it time to contact an attorney???
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