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Posted on 07/11/2003 8:12:26 AM PDT by Cagey
STATESVILLE - A clock-store owner will appear in court Monday on an assault charge for spanking a boy he says was teaching one of his store's parrots to cuss.
"I think I can protect my property against vandalism, as long as I don't use a gun," said William Soper, co-owner of Clock World on West Broad Street downtown. "A pop on the bottom is non-lethal."
Sheree Bustle, mother of the spanked boy, sees it differently. She called the police to file charges. "If you've got a problem with a kid abusing a bird, he could've handled it differently," she said.
On June 7, Soper was inside his shop repairing clocks when he heard squawks and shouts of an expletive over and over. As always, one of his eight parrots was sitting out front, taking in the sun and air.
That Saturday, it was Sparky, a female Green-wing, age 6. The sign on the white, wrought-iron cage reads: "SPARKY WILL BITE."
Sparky probably wouldn't bite, Soper said. The sign was "protection," but did not stop brothers Chris and Matthew Bustle from at least talking with her.
The Bustles, Soper said, were spitting on Sparky, something both boys deny.
Soper said he grabbed Matthew, 9, by the shirt, spanked his rear and told the boys to stay away if they couldn't behave.
Chris, 12, said Sparky was cursing first.
"I said its name 30 million times, and it said it back, and it said hello and all this stuff, and then it automatically said the f-word," Chris Bustle said.
All he did, he said, was egg her on.
According to Soper, Sparky had never used the expletive before.
When it comes to child-rearing and exotic birds, parents and bird owners can be people of a different feather. To Soper, 64, the children's behavior is indicative of parents today not supervising or disciplining their children.
Sheree Bustle said Soper had no right to lay hands on her child and should have called her or her husband. "God, I'd get child abuse at home, but he can get away with that?" she said.
If convicted of the misdemeanor in Iredell district court, Soper could face up to 60 days in jail and a fine.
For Soper, protecting his $13,000 pet justified his actions. "I think if they're old enough to be roaming the streets by themselves, they're old enough to be punished," he said.
At the family's home north of Statesville, Sheree Bustle said this week: "The bird is out there on the street unsupervised at all times."
Matthew was not hurt but said he was scared when grabbed by the shirt and spanked. "My feet were just kicking, trying to get away," he said.
Sparky, too, is cowed. She and the other parrots now spend their days inside to keep them safe from harassment, Soper said. The unfamiliar, indoor cage is stressing Sparky, he said. Lately, she hasn't been eating well.
And of the obscenity? Not a squawk, Soper said. That does not mean it won't slip out when he least expects it. Parrots can live in captivity for 80 years, and repeatedly heard words do not get erased.
"It's worse than graffiti," he said. "You can't wash it out."
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This merchant shouldn't go to jail, but should get a civil infraction ticket for this. He should have gotten a number and called the parents. Let the parent's handle it.
If I was 12, 13, etc, and some stranger put a hand on me, I would likely have hit the guy right back, and would have been dead right in doing so. Self-defense.
Exactly. Were it my sons, I'd expect him to swat 'em. Then, when they got home, I'd inform them they had just volunteered to clean his birds' cages for the next month.
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