Students Arrested Over 'Violent' Stick Figure Drawings

Local6 ^

[esryle]

OCALA, Fla. -- Two boys, ages 9 and 10, were charged with felonies and taken away from school in handcuffs, accused of making violent drawings of stick figures.

The special education students used pencil and red crayon to draw primitive stick figure scenes on scrap paper that showed a 10-year-old classmate being stabbed and hung, police said.

"The officer found they were drawing these pictures for the sole purpose of intimidating and scaring the victim," said Ocala Police Sgt. Russ Kern.

The boy depicted in the drawings told his teacher, who took the sketches and contacted the school dean, Marty Clifford. Clifford called police, who arrested the boys after consulting with the State Attorney's Office.

They were also suspended from school.

One drawing showed the two boys standing on either side of the other boy and "holding knives pointed through" his body, according to a police report. The figures were identified by written names or initials.

Another drawing showed a stick figure hanging, tears falling from his eyes, with two other stick figures standing below him. Other pieces of scrap paper listed misspelled profanities and the initials of the boy who was allegedly threatened.

Parents of both of the arrested boys said they thought the boys should be punished by the school and families, not the legal system.

Ocala police said they stand behind the decision to arrest the children.

"When an adult or even myself look at the picture looked at it at first I was thinking there is really not much to the picture or I would not be that scared by the picture those children drew," Ocala police spokesman Russ Kearn said. "However, we have to put ourselves in his mind and that's the bottom line here. It is his well-being and the way he perceived that picture to be. It actually put him in extreme fear and he was in fear for his life."

[esryle]

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[mhking]

Bet they've never seen Xiao-Xiao...

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[ProudVet77]

Two boys, ages 9 and 10, were charged with felonies and taken away from school in handcuffs, accused of making violent drawings of stick figures.

Sometimes I'm not sure what country I live in anymore.

[BenLurkin]

Is this from "The Onion"?

It can't be real.

[Adder]

Its too late.

We are beyond the bend.

[Kirkwood]

Old Marty is officially titled the "Dean of Discipline" by the school.

http://www.marion.k12.fl.us/schools/wpe/WPEpersonnel.htm#student services

[TheForceOfOne]

Maybe they were watching Stick Figure Death Theater?

http://www.sfdt.com/flash/movie-pages/movies/16666.html

[Viking2002]

These f*****g morons meed more help than those children ever will!

[SF Republican]

HANDCUFFS? 9 years old - do cops actually think anymore? at least they didn't shoot them

[texan75010]

I took a bite out of the corner of my sandwich and it looked like a gun. When I pointed it at my coworker, they shook with fear. Then security was called and they tried to take me away. Thats when I pulled out a paper and drew a picture of them getting beat up by me and they got really scared. Then I drew a picture of everyone in my office giving me all of their cash....and then one of the really cute blonde and me together and then......oh forget it!

[VinceJS]

Sometimes I'm not sure what country I live in anymore.

Apparently a country in which even children are not immune from arrest for "thoughtcrime".

[RobRoy]

""The officer found they were drawing these pictures for the sole purpose of intimidating and scaring the victim," said Ocala Police Sgt. Russ Kern."

If this is true, the police acted properly.

[RobRoy]

>>Then I drew a picture of everyone in my office giving me all of their cash....and then one of the really cute blonde and me together and then......oh forget it!<<

Could you scan and post that last one?

Just kidding - and embarrassed...

[the invisib1e hand]

Florida is not a police state. I have not been saying it is, for years, based on experience and the testimonies of a growing number of friends and acquaintences. Move along.

[stinkerpot65]

Every educrat is a thug.

[RobRoy]

>> Apparently a country in which even children are not immune from arrest for "thoughtcrime".<<

Actually, pictures are not a thought crime. Nor are words. You've heard the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words." Well, these guys may actually be guilty of physical threats against another human being. I believe you can go to jail for that, if it is reasonable to take the threats seriously.

[Lizavetta]

Two boys, ages 9 and 10, were charged with felonies and taken away from school in handcuffs, accused of making violent drawings of stick figures. The special education students used pencil and red crayon to draw primitive stick figure scenes on scrap paper that showed a 10-year-old classmate being stabbed and hung, police said.

There will be a lawyer on the scene in about ten minutes.

[Fiddlstix]

Good Lord! What if they catch kids playing "hangman" these days? Geeez!

[Fierce Allegiance]

Hope I don't go to jail!

[acad1228]

My son was suspended along with two other boys from Jr. high in October of '97. My son drew a kangaroo and showed it to one of the other boys. That boy drew a pistol in the "hand" of the kangaroo. The third boy drew a caricature of their science teacher in the line of sight of the pistol. The burly male science teacher broke down into uncontrollable sobs when he saw the drawing. All three boys were suspended for the remainder of the year. The charge; Menacing and threatening the life of a teacher.