Posted on 03/16/2014 2:11:29 PM PDT by rickmichaels
COBOURG, Ont. — Did a Cobourg, Ont., man go too far when he chased fleeing suspects who tormented his family for weeks?
Police think so, and they've charged him with mischief and assault with a weapon.
Chris Littlechild, 41, said he was simply protecting his family when he gave chase to suspects who he said had been harassing his family for over a month by pounding on his front door and driving off honking almost every night in the wee hours. Recently, the pranksters had stepped up the frequency of their overnight visits, and even draped his doorknob in Silly String.
"The next time are they going to do something to my vehicles, are they going to start trying to break into my house? Where does it go from there?" Littlechild said.
After six weeks of the disturbances, and multiple calls to police, Littlechild said he'd had enough and decided to set up a stakeout.
When the pranksters pulled into his driveway just before 1 a.m. Monday, Littlechild got into his car and took off after them with a baseball bat — for his own protection, he said. But he also forgot his cellphone, which he later regretted.
He finally cornered one of the cars, and told them to get out.
"You're coming with me. We're going to the cop shop," he told them.
When they refused to budge, Littlechild admits he lost his temper: "I lose it. I take my bat. I hit the side mirror."
That's when the other cars returned. And the parents of the kids involved. Then the police, which was what he wanted in the first place.
Except it was Littlechild who was eventually placed into the back of the police cruiser, taken to the station, charged, photographed and fingerprinted before he was released two hours later.
One of the youths suspected to have taken part in the harassing Monday was later charged under a trespass offence under the Trespass to Property Act.
If the youth is convicted, it's a provincial offence — essentially like a speeding ticket. If Littlechild is convicted, he will have a criminal record.
"I think it's totally bogus," said Littlechild, who has never been involved with police.
"They are getting a slap on the wrist. I had to get these (suspects) into the hands of the police but if they're not going to charge them with anything then what's the point? My family has to live in fear."
Cobourg Police Sgt. Jeff Sheils said he understands the frustration, but “I don't approve of his methods."
"As a mature adult who has a family, I think he should have been more thoughtful in what action he took," Sheils said.
Especially being involved in an extended car chase, he said:
"A lot of people could have been hurt."
Littlechild disagrees.
"I don't consider myself a vigilante, but I will do anything to protect my family and make sure they are safe."
Chris Littlechild
Would be the same result here in too many jurisdictions. Just something about these kids as well. They ran and brought back their indulgent parents? My kid would have been slapped and i’d go back alone to scope it out and offer apologies and recompense. No way do i escalate by having the kid along.
If this father is charged, I hope the jury acquits.
“One of the youths suspected to have taken part in the harassing Monday was later charged under a trespass offence under the Trespass to Property Act.”
Why did it take so long for the cops to get it together? Why only one of them?
He’s GUILTY of doing something the (likely) unionized cops couldn’t do-—actually corner the perps.
Of course the unionized cops and their government pals also on the payroll can’t have that—incompetence on a job is not a reason for someone else to step up to do the job!
/sarc
A better question is why “teens” are out doing anything at 1 a.m. on a school night?
The police have too little of importance to do if they are hassling this conscientious father.
The “pranksters” are 100% responsible for the guy’s reaction, because they cornered him into it. They are completely in the wrong and should be treated however harshly they need to be to drive the point home. The parents of the “pranksters” should be paying a civil fine to the guy they were harassing. The fine should be heavy enough to hurt.
He should have laid a trap to sabotage their car from the git go. Tire spikes, a piece of rebar through the radiator, things like that. Then go back in the house and report something vague like a “commotion outside” to the cops. Never admit knowing anything about who they are or what happened to their car. They would hang themselves trying explain it all.
Pranksters pulled into his driveway?
There are many, many better ways to solve this problem.
It shouldn’t have taken a month (let alone a week) to end it and wouldn’t have required/involved the cops...pathetic, imho.
Amen
A personal defense instructor once told me that in any confrontation, the first person to call the police is the victim, the second person is the aggressor. That guy should not have forgotten his phone.
Looks like another family is trying to drive his family out. Maybe they like his house and want to have it. That sort of thing happens in most locales now, and police won’t enforce against such common crimes committed by favored residents. They go after the politically correct stuff instead.
I wonder why Mr. Littlechild didn’t grab his Glock 21 or Ruger LCP?
OT, but life would have served the Bamster better if his paternal surname had been “Littlechild.”
Yes, they should have.
This is candada. He doesn’t have the same constitutional protections we have in the US. I’m not familiar enough with their constitution.
It does bring up the interesting thing that protects bullies: nobody is willing to ramp it up without actually killing them, which the activities of these kids doesn’t really deserve. So, technically, you can’t do a darned thing about it except maybe take a shotgun to their car to disable it as they try to escape to it. Even then you are taking a terrible legal risk.
Damn excellent point. The cops don't approve of their methods but get involved in police chases, will brake into the car just like breathing and physically pull someone out.
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