Mom Thrown in Jail for Letting Kids Play Outside... Huh?!
TEXAS - Back in the “good-old days,” a kid came home from school, gulped down a glass of milk, changed into grubby clothes and raced outside to meet up with a pack of neighborhood kids. Together they all ran around wildly, catching frogs, climbing trees and making mud pies. All of this was done without any adult supervision, or maybe mom or dad poked a head out the front door a couple times to make sure everything was under control. Yes, kid nirvana still exists in some neighborhoods around the country but many would agree that those days of children playing freely and safely outside are endangered. Today’s kids are either over-programmed with dance classes, math tutors, and soccer practice—or they’re glued to a screen. What’s more, parents often perceive the outdoors as being unsafe, even though crime is down overall.
And then there’s the woman in Texas who saw two kids, ages 6 and 9, playing on the front lawn next-door and decided to call the cops because she thought the kids shouldn’t be playing outside unsupervised. It turns out that the kids’ mom was actually sitting outside in a lawn chair but when the police arrived they didn’t believe her story. They threw Tammy Cooper into the police car and into a jail cell. “Orange jump suit, in a cell, slammed the door, for 18 hours,” Cooper told KPRC-TV. Cooper was arrested for child endangerment and she is disputing the charges. According to Yahoo News: Cooper is suing the La Porte Police Department, the officer, and the neighbor who made the call. In a statement, the police department said it was “confident of the known actions of the officers on the scene that evening.” The neighbor had no comment.
Submitted by EBN. Thank you!
23 comments:
Wtf? Seriously? I'd sue too!
Insane!
So if I read this right, the children were still on their own property, with mom nearby. WTF indeed!
That is NUTS!!! That poor woman! And that horrible woman who called the police! Even if she truly thought the kids were in danger sher should have called their mom before the cops. How terrible.
Enough is enough. I researched more about this incident, and it happened the neighbor allegedly said she hit the kid with her car and that is why she called the police. Besides of lying, she got herself in hot water. I also read Mrs. Cooper husband was away in military duty. Oh boy... sounds like the neighbor and the police don't have common sense at all.
WHAT?
Thankfully I live in a place where it's still commonplace for kids to play outside "unsupervised". I spent my childhood deep in the back woods with the neighbors, making up games and just generally being a kid.
I'm not a fan of the sue-crazy attitude of people in this country, but I think I would consider suing too if someone got me arrested for letting my kids play in the yard.
I was also a kid who roamed acres and acres of orchards and river property on my own, digging up worms, picking blackberries and imagining that I was hiding from bigfoot, etc. Our society needs this back. The fear of abduction is certainly much more real now, and I do understand people being extra vigilant. But there are times when we as a community need to decide to let the fear go and have common sense. My take on this story is that the neighbor was not happy for one reason or another about her new neighbors and she had small town connections to the police. Those of you in small town communities must have a much better sense of how this kind of thing works. It's outrageous to me.
This sounds absolutely ridiculous, which is why I'm reminded there are two sides to every story. I want to hear the full story before getting morally outraged.
lin, get lost.
slb3334,
She was removed, lol.
Damn. What did Lin say? I miss all the good stuff!!! Lol
Wow. I'd sue and call for a retraining for the officer. That's ridiculous. How can you arrest someone because you don't believe them???
This is mind-boggling.
Because if she's lying about supervising her child it could be child neglect. Obviously.
I agree with MissMannah.....there has got to be more to this story than that! And if there isn't, then yeah, I'd be doing something to get back at those people.
This story does not surprise me. But it should. And it would if I had no experience with nosey neighbors, crooked cops & lazy cps workers.
Never. I mean never, for the sake of your family, ever assume that you can trust someone. Cops can be extremely crooked. Neighbors can turn on you. And many cps workers have an agenda & are on a power trip. I used to not understand why older people were cynical. Now I know. Its the accumulation of life experience. Just last week a cop was speeding, cutting off cars, tailgating, while on his phone & his laptop! That is illegal here, to use your phone up to your ear. Also he was actively typing on his laptop while driving & on the phone!!!
I've learned to keep my mouth shut. Loose lips sink ships. Cops are not your friends. And people respect u more, the less u talk. The last time a cop tried to interview me, I said I would like to talk to a lawyer bc what I said can be misunderstood. Also, if a cop is interviewing u its bc they don't have enough to charge u. They're hoping you'll give them more evidence. An interview is a high pressure situation and no place to form ur defense. Always ask for a lawyer. Never talk to cps or the cops. Don't invite cps in ur home. Seek counsel. Record everything.
I'm rambling. My apologies.
CPS workers *might* have an agenda, but I assure you that is not the norm. Most want to keep children with family as much as possible.
And some don't want to keep families familes. They aren't on your side. Anything you say will be used against you. Its bad advice to encourage people to trust police & cps. Its their job to find fault with you. That's all I'm saying.
Someone said common sense isn't common anymore & based on this story, I agree.
Sorry to say- thank you for sharing your perspective. I believe you. And I agree that sometimes the police are crooked and not helpful to anyone. It's very scary to be vulnerable with your children.
it's only paranoia when they are NOT out to get you
Sorry to say but I agree with "Sorry To Say" & "East Bay Nanny". I don't think everyone is out to get u. But I know I wouldn't blindly trust them either.
I used to think CPS was crooked due to what my 'friend' was telling me about her experience with them. They removed her newborn from her custody and oh woah is her, she is being picked on etc but yet looking back I realized the truth and now I understand why she wouldn't report the case worker who seemed to be against her. Now I applaud that case worker for getting the baby into a stable home because she's definately not stable.
Now onto the story. I'm a nanny and what's wrong with going inside. It's not like the kids are 2 and 4. 6 and 9 year olds know how to stay in the yard and I doubt the mom even left them in the yard. I still say the neighbor was up to no good and either thought they saw something they probably didn't or didn't think much of or she was about to be. Neighbor should not only be sued but have the rest of the neighbors start spying and reporting everything she does. You can bet if I lived in that neighborhood and found out what happened even if I didn't know the mom I'd make sure nosy neighbor knew I was watching her with binoculars at that to catch everything. Nothing illegal about 'bird' watching :)
LOL!
LOL. I like Brat's style.
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