KATU News reports (Via Associated Press) that the father of a boy who fractured his skull at a skatepark is being charged with child neglect and criminal mistreatment. It seems dad left the six year old boy at the skatepark for a couple of hours. That’s the actual Medford skatepark in the background. We are going to milk this police officer stock photo for all it’s worth. [Medford photo: Troy Sliter]
From KATU News:
Father charged after child hurt at Medford skate park
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – A Medford father was charged with child neglect and criminal mistreatment after his 6-year-old son fractured his skull while skateboarding at a local skate park.
The boy, who wore a helmet while skating, was listed in good condition at a Medford hospital Tuesday.
Daniel Willis, 44, dropped off the 6-year-old and his 9-year-old brother at the skate park and left them there for about two hours, Medford police Sgt. Mike Budreau said.
Budreau said the parents told police they often dropped the boys off for skating. At about 6:25 p.m. Sunday, a passer-by saw the boy vomiting and asked what was wrong.
After learning that the boy had fallen and hit his head, the passer-by called for help.
An ambulance took the boy to Rogue Valley Medical Center, where doctors found he had fractured his skull, Budreau said.
Under state law, a felony criminal mistreatment charge applies when a caregiver leaves a dependent person unattended “for such a period of time as may be likely to endanger the health or welfare of that person.”
Yes, I feel bad for that kid. But I’m glad that parent is going to be held responsible for the welfare of his own child. I’ve seen parents drop off little kids a skateparks like they are bringing them to day care. Those kids often flounder around the park, getting in the way and causing dangerous situations through their own inexperience and lack of education in skatepark etiquette.
6 comments
brad
But my point was how do you define the word “unattedned” in the description of Felony Criminal Mistreatment?
Thor
When The Vancouver park first opened there used to be a few Mom’s that would hang out with their kids while they skated,now those same Moms just drop them off and drive off. I wish they would come back because now I have no reason to skate in the street area.
Kilwag
Ahhh yes.. the feral skatepark kid. Almost every park has one. Pier Park even has one, although I haven’t seen him lately. he must be trapped in a roller rink somewhere trying to gnaw his ankle out of a pair of skates so he can escape.
Brad – Yeah, roller rink and skatepark are two different things. A roller rink is highly structured (one direction, no cross traffic, couple skate!) and yes, supervised. If a kid gets a concussion at a roller rink there is staff there to look after him. A big skatepark is no place for a six year old to be left alone for hours.
brad
…we were droped off at the rolerskate rink all day at that age, usually without a 9 year old sibling. Those were great days. Kids are going to get hurt, overprotective-types just want to blame someone. What does “supervising” at a skatepark even mean? Being there while your child skates? How involved with them do you have to be to be “supervising”? You could be there “supervising” and the injury still happens and with the precedent you are endorsing here you might be liable in the future. Every parent behaves in ways consistent with that vague description of Felony Criminal Mistreatment, its inevitable. I’m suprised that you guys make such firm decisions about stuff like this so quickly, that’s exactly what people want you to do.
cskate
How about when the skatepark becomes the parent? Have you ever pulled into a small town skatepark and had a farrel kid who’s starved for attention latch onto you?
JAKEFERRANTI
Good looking out,Kilwag. As a parent of two, I often grouse about the same presumtion that just because public skate parks are free, doesnt mean day care is provided. I love that even very young kids skate, but they need a little education on the fundamentals. If you have children,they arent born with this knowledge in their lil’ heads, ready to be indexed at any time. Good thing the kid will be alright. Long live skate boarding, Boo 1/2 assed parents.