Two-Year-Old Cited by Police

10KLFY
May. 26, 2006

A two-year-old boy has been cited by Jeanerette police for criminal damage to property, after allegedly throwing a rock at a vehicle.

While his mother is not happy with the citation, she is more frustrated with the way the officer handled the incident.

Now, she wants her son's record cleared and the officer reprimanded.

Tauwana Harris says it happened during a baseball game at Jeanerette City Park three weeks ago. That's when her two-year-old son, Tremell Robertson, allegedly committed a crime.

Harris says Tremell picked up a rock and threw it at a lady's truck and hit the back of it. Harris says the woman claimed he put two holes in it. She says she was allowing her son to apologize, when the woman jumped out and said 'sorry' is not good enough.

Harris says at that point, the woman called Jeanerette police. Officer Douglas Trump arrived to find Harris and the owner of the vehicle arguing. That's when he suggested to move the discussion to the police department.

Harris says the officer asked her and the child to get in the police unit. When she refused to ride, he issued her a citation for criminal damage to property.

She says the officer told her it would be on Tremell's record.

She was not happy about that and says she tore up the citation.

The citation states she was to contact the juvenile officer within 72 hours.

Harris says the officer contacted her to let her know it wasn't going to court.

But, the citation is the least of Harris' problems. She is more frustrated with the officer's actions.

She's hired an attorney to look into the incident.

Police Chief Morman Alexander says his officer was wearing a recording device when he responded to the call.

He tells Eyewitness News after listening to the tape, he believes the officer acted within his rights. Therefore, no action will be taken against the officer.

Alexander adds, the owner of the vehicle in question is requesting that Tremell's mother pay for the damages.

He also adds, the incident will not be filed on the child's record.