# What do you think of this? 8 year old pepper-sprayed by cops. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712 "2011-04-08T20:17:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/21 "2011-04-09T06:59:46Z")
When I was in grade 5 I had a lovely homeroom teacher, Mr. Helsby. Mr. Helsby was a very, very large man. Probably close to 300 pounds. There was a very troubled boy in my class and one day he lost it. Really lost it. Mr. Helsby _SAT ON HIM_ and still was not able to keep him down. So, a 300ish pound man could barely contain a 60ish pound boy in a rage. The rest of the class was horrified and scared of what was going to happen. I think the pepper spray was just fine. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/22 "2011-04-09T07:28:59Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > But two cops at most can’t handle an 8-year-old hellion just by grabbing him without anybody getting injured? Even if he does have a sharp stick? The problem was less the cops getting injured by the stick and more the 8 year old getting injured by a tackle or hold or by the stick itself. The pepper spray _hurt_ but it didn’t injure. This looks like the best possible outcome. I hope that young Aidan gets the help he so desperately needs, and without the family being torn apart in the process. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/23 "2011-04-09T10:21:34Z")
The age of a person has no bearing on if they are dangerous to people and out of control. The kid had to be controlled in someway and to repeat the already stated, it was one of the least dangerous ways to others and the kid. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/24 "2011-04-09T10:30:04Z")
I found this one which I was looking for on a [kid going berserk](http://www.epmonthly.com/whitecoat/2010/04/the-medications-worked/). ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/25 "2011-04-09T12:21:59Z")
Reading the third article, it says the piece of trim was snapped off such that it had a long, sharp point on it. Charging that kid could have gotten one of them - or accidentally the kid - stabbed very deeply with it. He used a cardboard box in his other hand to block the first shot of pepper spray. They were called in because he’d thrown a TV and some chairs, and when found was using a cart to batter in a door where some teachers had taken children to hide. The kid himself said that he was mad and he wanted the sharp stick to attack the others with. I have no doubt that if the cops tried to physically take him down, the result would have been much worse than some pain and redness. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/26 "2011-04-09T16:26:01Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Were the police justified in pepper-spraying an eight year old boy? From one of the links: > [@](#): > > The officers found him with a foot-long piece of wood trim with a knife-like point in one hand and a cardboard box in the other. > > “Come get me, f-----,” he said. > > When they couldn’t calm him down, one squirted Aidan with pepper spray. He blocked it with the cardboard box. > > A second squirt hit the youngster in the side of the head, and down he went, according to an account of the Feb. 22 standoff in a police report first obtained by KUSA-TV. Absolutely they were justified. A sharp pointed stick will kill you and the age of the person holding it is immaterial. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/27 "2011-04-09T16:43:28Z")
Oh, yeah…all misunderstood innocent children with anger issues use phrases like “Come get me, fuckers!” I think I’d review what normal television/DVD viewing is in that household, as well, if I were investigating this one. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/28 "2011-04-09T16:53:49Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Were the police justified in pepper-spraying an eight year old boy? Maybe he looked like a nine yr old? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/29 "2011-04-09T16:55:27Z")
Not remotely justified. Absolutely digusting. If you can’t subdue an 8 year old with a stick, you shouldn’t be a cop (and I don’t give a fuck if a cop gets poked. If you can’t handle being poked with a stick, don’t be a fucking cop). I could have subdued this kid and gotten the stick away with no fucking problem. It wouldn’t be the first time either. Macing the kid was cowardly and sociopathic. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/30 "2011-04-09T17:02:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Not remotely justified. Absolutely digusting. If you can’t subdue an 8 year old with a stick, you shouldn’t be a cop Well, I’m not sure they should be beating children with sticks, either. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/31 "2011-04-09T17:07:48Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Well, I’m not sure they should be beating children with sticks, either. Well why else do they give them batons, then? Sheesh. Give someone a tool and expect them to not use it… ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/32 "2011-04-09T17:09:23Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I could have subdued this kid and gotten the stick away with no fucking problem. It wouldn’t be the first time either. Macing the kid was cowardly and sociopathic. The mom still would have bitched at you for hurting her precious little boy when you twisted his arm or took him down to the ground. She wanted the cops to **talk him down** from being a murderous little sociopath, like they did the last two times. Mind you, at the scene she told the red-faced kid that he probably deserved the pepper spraying. I guess she saw dollar signs later. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/33 "2011-04-09T17:15:12Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > If you can’t subdue an 8 year old with a stick.. I think most 8 yr olds could use a stick _and_ a little bit of pepper on them. > [@](#): > > I could have subdued this kid and gotten the stick away with no fucking problem. Great idea for reality show - Diogenes could face a different 8 yr old each week. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/34 "2011-04-09T17:16:01Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Well, I’m not sure they should be beating children with sticks, either. who said anything about beating them? You don’t have to hurt them at all. There are techniques. I’ve used them. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/35 "2011-04-09T17:17:15Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > The mom still would have bitched at you for hurting her precious little boy when you twisted his arm or took him down to the ground. She wanted the cops to **talk him down** from being a murderous little sociopath, like they did the last two times. I could do it without hurting the kid. I’ve done similar things before with EBD kids (and kids that were older than 8). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/36 "2011-04-09T17:19:50Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > I think most 8 yr olds could use a stick _and_ a little bit of pepper on them. I don’t understand the hatred of children on this message board. > [@](#): > > Great idea for reality show - Diogenes could face a different 8 yr old each week. You don’t fight them. It’s not a contest. You just make sure they can’t hurt themselves or anybody else. Taking it personally or seeing an 8 year old as some kind of mortal enemy is incrediblty immature. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/37 "2011-04-09T17:20:42Z")
I think two things may have happened there - the cops had talked him down twice already (insert rolleyes here at the need for it twice and then three times), so the mom had the expectation that they would always do that. On the cops’ side, I don’t know how cops work, but the if first time they talk nicely, the second time they talk less nicely, and the third time they mace - I can completely understand if they escalate depending on how many times they get called out for the same thing. I mean, within limits, given that he’s eight years old. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/38 "2011-04-09T17:22:51Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > who said anything about beating them? You don’t have to hurt them at all. There are techniques. I’ve used them. Your statement, “If you can’t subdue an 8 year old with a stick,” was ambiguous - it could be read as the eight year old had the stick or you were subduing the eight year old with a stick. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/39 "2011-04-09T17:23:38Z")
There is no excuse to escalate, no matter how many times they have to come out. It’s their job. If they can’t handle the job they need to find other work. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712/40 "2011-04-09T17:25:43Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Your statement, “If you can’t subdue an 8 year old with a stick,” was ambiguous - it could be read as the eight year old had the stick or you were subduing the eight year old with a stick. Well, if anyone really misunderstood, I will clarify. It is possible to de-escalete and/or restrain and disarm a small child without hurting him. People who work with kids who have behavioral disorders get specific training in it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-8-year-old-pepper-sprayed-by-cops/577712.md?page=3)