Did this police officer overstep his duties as a police office & and as a step-father?
Question by Countess Jodhaa Bai : Did this police officer overstep his duties as a police office & and as a step-father? A San Jose, Calif. police officer could face criminal charges after he handcuffed and pretended to arrest his stepdaughter’s boyfriend when he learned that the two had had sex.
The boyfriend, 15, might also be in legal hot water. The stepdaughter is 14.
The phony arrest was caught on tape, reports CBS News Correspondent Priya David Clemens.
The officer claims he faked the arrest to send a strong message about underage sex.
But now, authorities are trying to determine whether his actions were that of an overprotective father — or a police officer who seriously misused his power.
The grainy cell phone video, obtained from the San Jose Mercury News, shows the police officer admonishing the boy– their identities have been concealed.
The teen is seen being handcuffed and told he’s under arrest.
The officer is heard saying, “not a good thing that the person you had sex with is a cop’s daughter.”
The video was shot by the boy’s father, who can also be heard admonishing his own son, saying, “Use your head. Think about what he’s talking to you about” as the officer threatens the boy with criminal charges “for having sex with a minor.”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/27/earlyshow/living/parenting/main6904232.shtml?tag=pop Best answer:
Answer by Chase
he absolutely overstepped his boundaries weather or not he’s police officer. Teenage sex is perfectly fine in my opinion, its natural. As long as the proper safety is used.
What do you think? Answer below!
yes..
It does appear that the officer overstepped boundaries on this one. He’ll likely be charged with anything from assault to false imprisonment and maybe even kidnapping.
However, I can sympathize with the message he was trying to get across. He just didn’t do it in a very professional (or apparently legal) way.
As for the minor boy, he should be hoping this all goes away too because he could find himself having to register as a sex offender if the case against him goes through.
The officer should have talked with the boys parents!
I agree he overstepped his bounds…but I’m sure with good intentions. That doesn’t count though!
He should have actually made the arrest. The boy and the girl both violated California law.
The age of consent in California is 18, with a misdemeanor if the minor has 3 or fewer years of difference with the major, and potentially a felony if the major is more than 3 years older. It is worth emphasizing that unlike most other states, the close-in-age rule in California (3 years) do not provide an exception nor provide any defense; it merely lowers the crime to a misdemeanor. Under this law, two minors of the exact same age could both be prosecuted. Penalties increase if the minor is under 16 and the major is above 21 or if the minor is more than 3 years younger.