Charlton Library Sends Police To Collect Overdue Books From 5-Year-Old

CBS Boston ^ | January 2, 2012

[bamahead]

CHARLTON (CBS) – A Charlton mom says her local library crossed the line when they sent police to collect her daughter’s overdue library books.

Her mom says the 5-year-old girl was so afraid that she burst into tears.

Charlton Police Sergeant Dan Dowd stopped by the home of Shannon Benoit to let her know that her daughter had two books several months overdue which needed to be returned or paid for.

“I thought it was way overboard,” says Benoit. “I closed my door, I looked at my daughter and she started crying.”

Hailey asked her mom if the police were going to arrest her. Hailey says, “I was scared.”

--SNIP--

Even Sgt. Dowd admits he wasn’t real keen on it.

“Nobody wanted to, on this end to get involved in it,” says Sgt. Dowd. “But the library contacted us, and the chief delegated, and apparently I was one of the low men on the totem pole.”

But state law does outline a misdemeanor for such things, and police thought a friendly reminder might make a better impression and get better results than a cold summons to court.

The Benoit’s insist they never got any warnings.

[bamahead]

"Let me give you a hint, junior!"

[bamahead]

Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

[nuconvert]

Guess the cops don’t have anything to do there.

[Responsibility2nd]

Ahh, grow up Missy. At least they didn’t shoot your dog.

(is a sarc tag really necessary?)

[Army Air Corps]

Well, they have the whole murder, rape, burglary, and theft thing under control so they have time to go after the real hard core criminals.

[bigbob]

bet the Chief isn’t too happy with him now

[coloradan]

Because he didn’t shoot any dogs?

[Jack Hydrazine]

Partly that but also because she wasn’t detained indefinitely and placed permanently on the no-fly list because she’s now classified as a domestic terrorist.

[Timber Rattler]

What, no SWAT team?

[presently no screen name]

Was it because the books were overdue or that a 5-yr old can read. We’ll have none of that - how insensitive to the 16 yr olds!

[ßuddaßudd]

next time...

[aruanan]

Was it because the books were overdue or that a 5-yr old can read. We’ll have none of that - how insensitive to the 16 yr olds!

The books were months overdue. The mother had not responded to numerous notices. The law provided that ignoring library fines was actionable as a misdemeanor offense. If the mother feels bad that the little girl feels bad, she only has to look into the mirror to find the one to blame.

[Army Air Corps]

Thanks to your pic, I had to post this.

[massgopguy]

“Some where there’s a kid who wants to read The Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers without pictures of doo doo’s and wee wee’s drawn on the pages.”

[presently no screen name]

Everyone has to look in the mirror - especially those who bring 5 yr olds to the library.

[libertarian27]

Guess the cops don’t have anything to do there.

Not much goes on in Charlton

Library Police = Busy Work I guess
(hey, better than pulling people over for going 5 miles over the speed limit :>)

[TheOldLady]

Thank you, JoeProBono

[moovova]

Renew or return library books on time.

End of story.

[C210N]

I was once sitting home in my house, and a lot of cars pulled up around the house. They shined in searchlights, and I heard a voice over the loudspeaker say "We have your house surrounded. This is the New York public library" They wanted their books back, y'know, and the little librarian was lobbing grenades over the house. I came out with my hands up, y'know, kicking the book ahead of me. They took me down to the main branch on Fifth Avenue in New York, and they took away my glasses for a year.

[sportutegrl]

My mother taught me to read when I was four years old. And this was before Your Baby Can Read.