1. That an 11 year old could rape. I'm sure it can happen, but it still troubles me.
2. I am reminded that anyone of us are innocent until proven guilty, and especially an 11 year old; the situation needed to be handled with extraordinary care. Not just a couple of officers.
3. What does the law say about rights and understanding those rights? How do you read Miranda rights to an 11 year old and make sure they are properly understood?
4. At what age do we treat children as adults? What if this boy was 9? 7? Also 5, the same age as the alleged victim?
5. What about justice for the 5 year old? How does that child get over what has happened?
6. The city should have seen this as a very big deal and initially allocated the correct resources to it, such as a psychologist or someone who deals with criminal children. Ideally, it would have been best to summon the mother and 11 year old to the police station to make a statement; with full written acknowledgment of everyone’s rights included. To those who say that would have cost the town more money, look at what this FUBAR will now cost them!
IIRC, children this age are not allowed to be interrogated without a parent and/or lawyer present.