Suspect Tried to Bite Off More Than He Could Chew

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 04:51 PM

Fort St. John, B.C.- An RCMP officer is recovering from injuries sustained while arresting a 16 year old suspect in Ft. St. John Monday.

The incident began around 9:45 am, when Ft. St. John RCMP received a report alleging a sixteen year old male had assaulted his father. The youth then fled his residence in his mother's vehicle.

Police located the youth traveling south on the 101 Road and began following the vehicle. It is believed the teen tried to evade police by driving into oncoming traffic and traveling at a high rate of speed. Police activated their emergency equipment, but did not pursue the teen.

The Police Officers continued to search for the suspect and located him outside of the Totem Mall shortly after 11:00 am. The Police Officer advised the youth that he was under arrest, at which time the teen became combative with the member. The youth attempted to escape custody, but was subdued by the Police Officer. During the ensuing struggle, the youth bit the Police Officer's fingers. Additional Police Officer's arrived on scene and the youth was taken into custody.

The Police Officer was taken to the Fort St. John Hospital where he received medical treatment for the injuries to his fingers. The Officer did lose both fingernails and received stitches to close the wounds.

The male suspect was taken to the Fort St. John Detachment and has since been transferred to the Fort St. John Hospital under the Mental Health Act. Criminal Charges are being considered against the youth. The Police Officer remains on modified duty.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 04:51 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: metalman on February 9 2010 5:24 PM

Did the poor dear get milk and cookies before the police had to release him?
Did the unfortunate cop have to get rabies and tetanus shots? The kid should be the one getting shots; to the head, to the kidneys, what, was he high on meth?
How could anyone want to be a police officer these days? They are so disrespected by too many people ( mostly young people? )
I have seen two separate instances recently where youths were arguing, yelling and using foul language in the face of an RCMP Constable who had made a polite request for them to move, they were loitering, littering and smoking right in front of a mall entrance, and yes there are signs posted, the unfortunate youths apparently cannot read.
metalman.

Posted by: Longnecks1 on February 9 2010 5:50 PM

This is what happens when you take dispine out of the house. For years now there is a law that says you can't spank your kids. Well all you bleedin heart clubs, welcome for what you have created. MONSTERS out of control

Posted by: bair on February 9 2010 5:53 PM

shoulda tazered the little darling!

Posted by: Harbinger on February 9 2010 6:27 PM

Hope this little jerk is served only "finger food" whilst in the slammer for a few hours before he is released on his own recognizance with a promise to appear only to get probation or released into "open custody". Our justice system is a joke. Just ask the kid.

Posted by: ammonra on February 9 2010 6:40 PM

What a fine example to the young all you old adults are setting for the young with your vicious approach to discipline. How is tasering any less nasty than biting? How is suggesting he be beaten in the head and kidneys any less malicious than biting? You are all a credit to humanity. Not!

As for blaming it on spanbking not being allowed in homes, how do you know he hasn't been beaten? How do you know that wasn't the root cause of the problems between him and his father?

The fact is you don't know and the article doesn't say one way or the other. You could be wrong, I could be wrong. Until we are told the circumstances it's just spitting in the wind.

If not spanking causes these problems, why don't we have half a million of them from all the kids not being spanked, or is that too complex a thought for a knee jerk blamer?

Posted by: lmorge on February 9 2010 6:42 PM

Pepper spray works wonders!

Posted by: interceptor on February 9 2010 7:13 PM

You are right Ammonra, we dont know if he was spanked or not. Having said that, he now needs to be proverbially SPANKED like he has never been spanked before. He is 16, if doesnt know that running from the Police by driving into oncoming traffic is wrong then he needs a VERY steep learning curve. If your family was killed in a head on collision from him would you be so understanding to the poor babys feelings?

Posted by: jales4 on February 9 2010 8:20 PM

The male suspect was taken to the Fort St. John Detachment and has since been transferred to the Fort St. John Hospital under the Mental Health Act.

How about a little compassion for the kid (along with for the police officer). If the child is suffering from a mental illness he needs treatment - not scorn.

You cannot spank a mental illness out of a child.

Posted by: interceptor on February 9 2010 8:24 PM

Good point jales4 - obviously my comment was made notwithstanding of mental illness. Thanks

Posted by: ammonra on February 9 2010 8:56 PM

You should read my post agin, Interceptor. Nowhere did I express any opinion about the young man's feelings. What I protested was the statements by presumed adults that he should be physically abused in revenge for what he did.

My feelings about my family are not a factor in believing that vicious premeditaed cruelty is a suitable response to this kind of event.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on February 9 2010 10:21 PM

Actually...a good old fashioned sh**t kicking works wonders on bad attitudes in many cases!
If it doesn't,do it again.
Eventually you get their attention!
;-)
Chill out ammonra...doesn't biting someone's fingers off constitute premeditated cruelty?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on February 9 2010 10:23 PM

Longnecks1...on the money!
Can't touch them anymore...and don't the little buggers know it!

Posted by: ammonra on February 9 2010 10:43 PM

I suspect it was done in the heat of the moment, Andyfreeze, not as a premeditated act. I doubt he decided to bite the officer the day before.

As to a good sh**t kicking, that kind of crap is just motivated by fear and venom. It's an attitude which leads to physical abuse, law suits and criminal charges for assault and battery against the sh**t kicker.

Incidentally, as I have mentioned here before, I was given mant beatings as a child and teenager by a vicious "sh**t kicker" and all it did was make me hate and despise him. His sh**t kickings never made me stop doing what I wanted. It just made me hide it. I joined a group that showed me some consideration and had concern for my welfare eventually. That is what turned me around, not the violence.

Posted by: Junco on February 9 2010 11:34 PM

I am disgusted by what this kid did. It makes me more than a little angry that he was endangering other peoples lives with his recklessness. Lock him up and sort his issues out. Unless he is in a psychotic state due to mental illness it is hard to feel sorry for him. I save my empathy and sympathy for animals and people who respect others. We'll probably be reading about this kid again and I don't imagine it will be a commendation for him being a good Samaritan.I know lots of people who have survived abuse and they haven't gone on to be abusers themselves. Bleeding hearts aren't going to save this kid. Either he has the capacity to be a decent human or he doesn't. Be damned if I am going to feel sorry for this waste of skin.

Posted by: Junco on February 9 2010 11:38 PM

If he is deranged due to a mental illness, then I do feel for him and he may be helped.
I hope that is the case, I hate to sound harsh but it's getting pretty hard to give a lot of these guys the benefit of a doubt.

Posted by: Simon on February 10 2010 1:32 AM

I hope he get raped in prison.

Posted by: Eagleone on February 10 2010 7:23 AM

In this kind of case I have no problem with the billy club coming out and being used so the kid remembers how to respect the lives of others... mental illness or not give him the s%&*kicking of his life once he decides to bite an officer after a morning of crime like he was on. I don't buy the mental illness argument as a defense, and if they want to use that then lock them up for life, because to me that says said individual can't be trusted in society.

I know many people with mental illness and they don't attack people... I have empathy for them, but once mental violence enters the equation they need to be removed to a hospital from society and often for good. I've crossed paths with the violent mental cases in the past and they have no place in society and I don't believe those kinds of individuals can be rehabilitated. No second chances I say if he claims mental illness.

Posted by: ammonra on February 10 2010 8:45 AM

Removing someone from society to protect it is a completely different thing than venting your frustrations against someone who has problems, whatever they are, by suggesting that they should be beaten up, kicked, raped, billy clubbed and god knows what other violent torture and abuse.

Those kinds of suggestions show very clearly the mental status of some nasty people on this site as just vengeful, petty, bullies who think that the problems in this world can all be solved by violence. They can't, as history has proven over and over again. Violence breeds violence

Posted by: metalman on February 10 2010 9:04 AM

What an interesting assortment of opinions.
Surprisingly, I agree with most of them, even the pacifist approach endorsed by ammonra, at least on general principal.
The violence I proposed would NOT be premeditated, as was suggested, but purely reactive. I liken that approach to the training of a dog, you would not plan to go out and just start beating your dog for no apparent reason would you? No. But you might apply discipline if the dog was caught in the act of doing wrong, not to cause physical harm, but to re-inforce the rules, to get it into their brain that they should not do that. A 16 yr. old boy assaulting a police officer is doing wrong, milk and cookies are not going to change his attitude.
At this time, I would like to trot out my supposition that the kid may have been high on meth, or pcp, either of which can cause psychotic behaviour. Thanks.
metalman.

Posted by: acopolympics on February 10 2010 9:57 AM

Premeditated does not mean you have to plan something. In law it simply means that at the time of the act you meant for the outcome to happen. Such as, if you shoot someone, and at the time of the shooting you know the end result will be death, that is considered a premeditated act. You consciously choose to kill that person at that time, therefore you premeditated that murder.

Posted by: Simon on February 10 2010 10:48 AM

I dont think Im a petty vengeful bully. I just want him to learn a lesson now before he starts home invasions to support his joblessness in the future.

Posted by: ski50 on February 10 2010 10:48 AM

It's funny whenever we run into this kind of stuff we want some kind of harsh justice and I think it stems more from our overall frustration with criminals walking more often than not rather than us really wanting this kid to get a beating. He's a teenager and it's pretty well established they aren't capable of understanding consequences. I've done first aid on ski hills and believe me, teenagers don't think. That's why I get to splint their broken legs and haul them down the mountain after they've taken a death defying jump :)

I think the real issue is we simply don't have enough facilities to lock up everyone who should be locked up and to hospitalize and treat everyone who should be. I have no doubt this kid exhibited warning signs that maybe were picked up on, but there's no resources to deal with him - until now. Now that he's committed a crime, suddenly we have the resources to help him.

So it falls back to us the taxpayers. Do we want the government to take a little extra from our paycheques to build more prisons and mental hospitals, or do we want to let drug dealers and mentally ill people wander the streets. I'm pretty sure judges would love to throw these guys in jail if there were room for them. And I'm sure doctors would love to send mentally ill teens for help - if there were anywhere to send them. But would we love to pay the extra taxes. Please don't rant about the Olympics could have paid for this. They probably could have but that money is long gone now.

Posted by: Simon on February 10 2010 10:52 AM

I dont think Im a petty vengeful bully. I just want him to learn a lesson now before he starts home invasions to support his joblessness in the future.

Posted by: heidi1555 on February 10 2010 11:10 AM

I get where you are coming from Ammonra.

I'm not sure we'll ever hear why this happened but can only hope things get on the right track with this kid. This kid may not have been acting in violence but maybe in fear? We don't know yet.

Glad the officer will be okay....yuck!!

Posted by: metalman on February 10 2010 12:23 PM

Sorry Heidi, I for one cannot buy the 'fear defense' angle. With a now clear understanding of 'premeditated' as pertains to Canadian law, the finger munching, to me, was premeditated.
Believe me, I too hope the kid gets on the right track, I wish him well, but he acted out in an anti social manner where innocent people could have been injured or worse, so there is something wrong with him, imho. Is he a psychopath, or suffering from psychosis brought on by drug abuse? We don't know.
metalman.

Posted by: Loki on February 10 2010 12:27 PM

There is a big difference between corporal punishment and physical abuse. It is because the line was crossed much too frequently that we now have the Spock method of child rearing without corporal punishment. The good Dr Spock has recanted his entire philosophy on child rearing yet the laws are still on the books.

Respect for authority is born of fear of repercussions. There is no respect for authority now because there is very little repercussions.

Personally , I have found the 2x4 training yields marvelous and immediate results. Far superior results than wagging a finger a talking in a calm voice. They just laugh at you, in your face even.

For the benefit of society, spank your little darlings occasionally. Make sure they know that if they misbehave, there will be very uncomfortable consequences. Part of the discipline and the lesson is for the receiver of the discipline to take what is coming because they are aware that they transgressed. No fight and struggle, just grab your ankles, you earned it.

If this is not done prior to about age twelve, then it is too late. After age twelve, the child should be well aware of right and wrong. After age twelve, this potential perpetrator is already set for their future, whatever it may be.

In no way am I suggesting anything that would bruise or permanently harm anyone. Nor am I suggesting the use of a weapon. This exercise must be conducted in a calm manner with well laid out expectations and defined boundaries. It must be structured like anything else that is to be successful, not just a vengeful "beating."

Posted by: commoner on February 10 2010 12:49 PM

Teen hits father and takes off. Police called. Teen sees police following. Teen behaves irrationally to elude police. Teen cornered. Teen resists. Officer assaulted. Gee, this doesn't sound any different than trying to stop a young child in the midst of a temper tantrum. It obviously escalated.
This teen needed a time out and sitting in a cell will provide that. As will sitting in a hospital room. By 16, this individual should be able to follow the rules of society. His actions speak otherwise and therefore a mental health evaluation is necessary.
Without knowing this child's history, I can only view this situation. I will not say this kid is condemned to a life of crime. This youth made poor choices as children do.
This child, as any other, will need to face the consequences of his choices. That includes charges of assault. A formal letter of apology, removing priveleges and restitution is in order. Counselling is also important for him and his family to support and work through their issues.
Extreme measures are not warranted in my opinion. Perspective is needed, as is compassion for the family. Anger and frustration will not help this family. Facilitating the desired outcome will go far. Vengence never solves or prevents these sorts of things. I hope the officer has a speedy recovery and I hope this teen learns from his mistakes. What a mess he made for himself :-(

Posted by: heidi1555 on February 10 2010 1:57 PM

No doubt he acted in an anti social manner. Totally agree with you there Metalman.

No sorry necessary. I don't expect everyone to agree with all my ideas even though it would be easier.....lol.

;)

Posted by: Harbinger on February 10 2010 3:03 PM

When I was a kid I hit my little brother. My dad then swatted me and told me he hated violence. And here I am!

Posted by: ammonra on February 10 2010 9:47 PM

Just a note in explanation. I originally used the word"premeditated" in its common, plain English meaning of "deciding ahead of time" with regard to the retribution that some suggested. I used it in the same sense a second time. It may have a particular legal meaning, but that sense was not the meaning I intended to convey.

Posted by: Eagleone on February 11 2010 7:41 AM

That's the fantastic thing about freedom of speech... when we can agree to disagree and when some take a hard line, and others take a more empathetic approach moderating the consensus...