Taking child into custody ‘last resort,’ police say in wake of complaints

BRANDON — Police say they had no choice but to take an aggressive 11-year-old boy who had punched the principal and caused destruction to his school into custody despite criticism by his parents who have demanded an apology.

The Brandon Police Service said Friday that taking a child into custody is a “last resort.”

“That decision is made only when it is necessary to prevent harm to the child or to others,” Insp. Dana McCallum said in an emailed statement to the Brandon Sun.

On Tuesday, officers responded to Earl Oxford School after receiving reports of a student who was “screaming and striking” walls, police said Wednesday.

Police said the student punched the principal in the face multiple times and caused “significant” damage inside the school.

The child’s mother was called and had a chance to talk to the boy. He proceeded to punch through a wall big enough that he entered the next room. That’s when officers handcuffed the boy and took him into custody, police said.

BPS said officers briefly took the mother into custody after she ignored commands to stay back and instead interfered with the officers.

The woman was released without being charged, and the boy was released to his father and staff from the Child and Adolescent Treatment Centre later that day.

The boy’s mother posted photos of her son being escorted out of the school and criticized the police response.

“Cops threw my son around and me too after I started trying to record and take pictures!” she wrote in a Facebook post.

She said her son has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant order and an intellectual delay disorder.

In an interview with CBC, the mother said the boy had been working with a female education assistant and his behaviour was improving, but their relationship came to an end.

He has not had access to an occupational therapist or psychologist, despite requesting one, the mother said.

The boy’s father said their family wants an apology.

The family didn’t respond to requests for comment from the Brandon Sun.

McCallum said when responding to situations involving a child under 12 who is acting erratically or violently, the primary focus is always on safety, both for the child and others involved.

“Officers assess the situation carefully, considering the child’s behaviour, any potential risk of harm and the surrounding circumstances,” she said.

“In this situation, the responding officers have training in de-escalation with extensive experience managing high-stress and crisis situations. The female responding officer is also a highly trained crisis negotiator,” she said.

“We do our best to handle these situations as safely and effectively as possible.”

The Brandon School Division said it would not comment on the incident and acknowledged that the broader questions around supports for students, staff, schools and the community are important but “deserve a more thoughtful and in-depth conversation.”

— Brandon Sun