Nine-year-old boy handcuffed by police at Toronto daycare

[Guest Peeves]

I've seen some big out of control 9 year olds.

Nine-year-old boy handcuffed by police at Toronto daycare

Toronto— The Canadian Press

Published Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011 4:53AM EDT

A Toronto mother says she is considering legal action after her nine-year-old son with special needs was briefly handcuffed by police at a daycare centre, Citytv reports.

Linda Dastous says the staff at the Fairbank Memorial Day Care Centre called her on July 28, saying her son, Austin, was out of control.

Daycare officials called 911 saying Austin, who has Asperger syndrome and other disorders, posed a danger to himself and others.

Austin says he became upset after being teased and staff moved him to an empty classroom but he became more unruly and he barricaded himself in the room.

He says police broke down the door, grabbed his arms and put handcuffs on him. The cuffs were removed moments later after Austin spoke to the police crisis intervention team.

Police are defending their decision to cuff the boy, saying their methods worked.

“Using the handcuffs worked. He did calm down, and he has no injuries from that,” Const. Victor Kwong told Citytv. “In this case the officers did the right thing by restraining him.”

Ms. Dastous says her son can’t return to Fairbank or any other daycares run by the Learning Enrichment Foundation.

[GostHacked]

I can't see any good reason why one would need to cuff a 9 year old kid.

[Wild Bill]

I can't see any good reason why one would need to cuff a 9 year old kid.

Well GH, most of the time you might be right but you weren't there and neither was I! The kid had mental problems! Have you ever seen some of the incredible physical feats performed by those mentally ill? Have you ever worked in an institution and seen how difficult it can be to deal with some patients?

Not all 9 year olds are the same size and maturity level. There was a student at my daughter's elementary school who was almost as big as a man and he was only 11!

It's easy to make sweeping generalizations if you don't have all the facts.

Or more simply, nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself!

The kid wasn't hurt, he was stopped from hurting others - looks to me the police did a good job by the only yardstick that counts - it worked!

[Moonlight Graham]

I can't see any good reason why one would need to cuff a 9 year old kid.

Would you rather him, or someone in a similar situation, in handcuffs, or pinned down face first on the floor? Or physically restrained in another way by the cops? Full-nelson perhaps? Or a Jiu-Jitsu elbow lock? Or roll him up in a rug?

The safety of everyone, including the kid, were likely at risk, so handcuffs seem like a safe option. There is certainly unpleasant connotations that come with being placed in handcuffs (ie: like he was being "arrested" or did something "unlawful", which it doesn't seem like the case), so I can see the mother's point of view, but she should have some empathy of the situation the cops were in. Intent of the cops should be looked at, ie: they probably weren't trying to arrest the kid or treat him like a thug, they just wanted to retrain him and cuffs are a safe tool they use for that purpose.

Then again, there is probably some kind of code of practice for cops in situations like this, and they may be discouraged from cuffing young kids or people in general with these kinds of disorders.

We don't know the whole story, but I think the mom should try to give the cops a bit of slack, they were likely just trying to keep the boy and everyone safe until he calmed down.

Edited August 31, 2011 by Moonlight Graham

[capricorn]

Would you rather him, or someone in a similar situation, in handcuffs, or pinned down face first on the floor? Or physically restrained in another way by the cops? Full-nelson perhaps? Or a Jiu-Jitsu elbow lock? Or roll him up in a rug?

..or tasered?

Intent of the cops should be looked at, ie: they probably weren't trying to arrest the kid or treat him like a thug, they just wanted to retrain him and cuffs are a safe tool they use for that purpose.

I would imagine the tools cops carry around cannot cover every possible scenario they might encounter. The cops can take temporary measures to keep all parties safe until the proper measures can be taken to deal with the situation, which in this case would probably involve medical staff.

We don't know the whole story, but I think the mom should try to give the cops a bit of slack, they were likely just trying to keep the boy and everyone safe until he calmed down.

I'm curious to know if the mother met or plans to meet with the police to discuss the matter before she takes action against them. From what I have read about cases involving lawsuits and charges against cops, once an investigation is called the police authorities involved cannot speak directly or publicly about the matter to anyone, including the plaintiff.

[wyly]

I can't see any good reason why one would need to cuff a 9 year old kid.

you would hope not but what is the proceedure for physically restraining a kid that is out of control?

[DFCaper]

you would hope not but what is the proceedure for physically restraining a kid that is out of control?

I bet you any money that this kid who is so dangerious and violent that 2 police officers needed handcuffs, will daily be under the resposibility of a single female (@ daycare or a TA at school) that will not be allowed to use constraints. They are the people that we should be wondering how we can make safer.

[GostHacked]

you would hope not but what is the proceedure for physically restraining a kid that is out of control?

I really don't have an answer for it, but I am sure cuffs are not the answer. I mean a fully grown up adult should be able to handle a 9 year old kid. The kid's parents know how to handle the kid. If the blanket approach is not working, try something else.

[Wild Bill]

I really don't have an answer for it, but I am sure cuffs are not the answer. I mean a fully grown up adult should be able to handle a 9 year old kid. The kid's parents know how to handle the kid. If the blanket approach is not working, try something else.

Don't forget that in such situations no one has the time to sit around and discuss various options, GH!

Apparently, he was a danger to other students. What if one of those students was your own child?

Have you got another quick and fast solution that would have been instantly obvious to everyone there?

My attitude has always been that if someone doesn't have a WORKING alternative he really has no right to criticize. Anybody can demand someone ELSE think of a better solution!

[Bonam]

I really don't have an answer for it, but I am sure cuffs are not the answer. I mean a fully grown up adult should be able to handle a 9 year old kid. The kid's parents know how to handle the kid. If the blanket approach is not working, try something else.

If the kid needs to be physically restrained, what is wrong with cuffs as opposed to an officer restraining the kid manually by holding him with his/her hands? I think cuffs are just fine. They likely pose a lower risk of injury than an officer restraining him by other means. The article also says they were removed very quickly.