Teen faces new charge in Facebook video case

A 13-year-old boy facing a mischief charge after allegedly filming two girls fighting and posting the video on his Facebook profile has also been charged with criminal harassment.

The boy, a student at Tomken Road Middle School, was arrested at his school on Dec. 19 after police received a complaint about the video.
He was later charged with mischief by Peel Regional Police.

Const. Thomas Ruttan confirmed tonight the teen was charged with criminal harassment earlier today in connection with the same incident.

The boy is alleged to have shot the footage, which shows two girls fighting and a number of other students cheering from the sidelines, on his cell phone.
Ruttan said at least one of the girls "believed her safety was in jeopardy."

The incident is believed to have taken place near Dixie Road Public School while the boy was on his way home from classes.

His mother said she believes staff at Tomken Road notified police about the video, although police would not confirm that.
She claims her son received no warning from school staff before being called to the main office last month, where he was placed in handcuffs by a police officer.

The mother, who said she has a long-running dispute with the school over her son's education, accused both the police and school staff of over-reacting to the incident after he was initially charged.

She said arresting her son was simply answering bullying with another form of bullying.
"As adults, rather than teaching kindness, we are teaching meanness," she added.

Comments by others - 10 - to this web-page at time of posting;

madeinitaly Jan 16, 2013 10:38 PM

Call the Parents First

The school should have called the parents first. This doesn't seem to be a police matter. Counseling and some community service would have helped more.

Big E. Jan 12, 2013 8:11 PM

Ah, BUMFIGHTS at Celebration Square

Something we're all looking forward to. Especially if they're held on the third floor.

zoomimage Jan 12, 2013 8:01 PM

filming

He got charged for filming!!!! what a joke. what did the girls get for fighting ? I wounder if any one filmed him get arrested. hope the mother gets a good lawyer and sues the police and school.

evannowes Jan 12, 2013 11:47 AM

Extrajudicial Measures FYI

http://www.jfcy.org/ycj-extrajudicial.html

Agree 1

Petite Jan 12, 2013 9:34 AM

Sounds like ....

The kid is a troublemaker and the mom cannot own it.! She is one of those moms that her kid can do no wrong.

Agree 2 Disagree 1

evannowes Jan 12, 2013 8:48 AM

The Youth Criminal Justice Act provides for "extrajudicial measures."

And I understand this Act requires police officers to consider the use of extrajudicial measures before deciding to charge a "young person". For some reason, I gather this was not a consideration in this case.

Agree 1

Mantis Jan 12, 2013 7:42 AM

Utterly Ridiculous

Not one mention of the actual combatants facing charges and yet they keep up the heavy handed assault on this kid. I'm not defending his filming and posting of the fight - although it's no different than "adults" filming people beahving badly and postin it to YouTube but to bring criminal charges is ridiculous in the extreme. Time to bring common sense back.

Agree 1 Report Abuse 1

smileaway03 Jan 11, 2013 11:41 PM

As a kid it was drilled in me, and those around me, that when something like this happens, and you stand around and just watch or cheer, you are just as guilty as the ones in or the one who started a situation like this. Is there no moral decency being pushed these days? Also, I won't be surprised if in about 10 years we hear that this mother is being charged with obstruction of justice after her son rear-ends another vehicle causing a fatality and then flees the scene.

Agree 3 Disagree 1

Incognito Jan 11, 2013 10:57 PM

funny. no news about the two combatants. seems like the real problem (the fight) is not being addressed, yet the kid who witnessed the thing is getting crucified. - I'm wondering what people have a problem with here. Do they believe a 13 year old boy has a moral obligation to break up a fight? Did he leave a girl there to die (as katt62 seemed to mention)? Or was it that he posted a video about 2 people in an assumed consensual fight? Without seeing the video, I'm not going to jump to conclusions, but this seems way out of proportion.

Agree 1 Disagree 1 - Report Abuse 1

katt62 Jan 11, 2013 10:12 PM

mother and son both guilty in one form r another

This mother needs to take ownership for not teaching her son inportant life lessons and her son needs to take ownership for his actions as well. You mean to tell me that this kid didnt know it was wrong to film and post video of 2 people fighting?! Get REAL!!! What would have happened if one of the girls had died from the beating?? Would he still be saying he didnt know it was WRONG!! The mother obviously dint teach her child, probably too wrapped up in her life to take responsibility!!

Agree 6 Disagree 1

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