http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/son-rides-in-tool-box-578432
Cops: New Hampshire Man Drove 40 Miles With Teen Son Inside Truck's Tool Box
The Smoking Gun
A New Hampshire man is facing a child cruelty rap after allegedly putting his teenage son inside a tool box in his truck’s bed and then driving about 40 miles, according to police.
Investigators allege that Russell Johnson, 42, “went to pick up his three children with a single bench pick up,” and that one of the minors was “put in the tool box that spans the bed” of the vehicle.
Johnson then drove the truck from his ex-wife’s home in Springfield, Vermont to his Bradford, New Hampshire residence.
Pictured at right, Johnson last week was issued a criminal citation and ordered to appear for arraignment on January 8, according to a Springfield Police Department statement.
In an interview, Johnson acknowledged that his 17-year-old son “did end up in a tool box.” He added that it was the teen’s “choice” to ride in the tool box (since there was no room inside the truck’s cab) and that the 6’ 3” boy kept the cover ajar during the trip.
“I didn’t stuff him in there,” said Johnson, who noted that police only learned about the late-September trip after one of his teen daughters “ratted me out” to a state child welfare worker. The girl, he said, wants to live with her mother full-time and is angry with him over an earlier incident during which he slapped her for cursing.
Johnson, a farm manager, said that he only transported his children in the truck because his car had broken down. “It was a one-time thing,” he remarked.
Man accused of transporting child in toolbox for ride from Vermont to NH
Bradford man due in court in January
UPDATED 11:32 AM EST Nov 19, 2012 WMUR
Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Man-accused-of-placing-child-in-toolbox-for-ride-from-Vermont-to-NH/-/9857858/17469642/-/p1f5qiz/-/index.html
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. —
A New Hampshire man has been charged with cruelty for allegedly putting his child in his toolbox for a ride from Vermont to New Hampshire.
Russell Johnson Sr., 42, of Bradford, N.H., was picking up his three children with his single-bench pickup truck last Wednesday. He is accused of placing one of the children in a toolbox that spans the bed of his truck.
Johnson was arrested in Springfield. He had planned to drive from Springfield to his home in New Hampshire.
He was cited to appear in court on Jan. 8, 2013.
Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Man-accused-of-placing-child-in-toolbox-for-ride-from-Vermont-to-NH/-/9857858/17469642/-/p1f5qiz/-/index.html#ixzz2ChFHwFVQ
This is nothing!
ReplyDeleteI used to give my 10 year old nephew and 8 year old neice what she called "hell rides" in the back of my truck.
It had a cap and I'd put them in there for a physics lesson.
I'd floor it and they'd go sliding back into the tailgate, then slam the brakes on and they'd go ass over tea kettle into the front of the bed. They loved it!
In some states it is perfectly legal to ride in the back of the truck if all the seats are full in the cab and the rider in the bed is over 16. Honestly, I don't see the big deal especially if the 17 year old made the decision to ride in there to avoid cold wind. I am not sure about Vermont or New Hampshire's laws but I definitely wouldn't consider it child cruelty
ReplyDeleteOn the farm we throw chickens and pigs in there all the time, never hurt one of them. On occasion, we'd find new eggs none ever cracked. I think it's safer in there then in the front. Anyway, the kid probably had fun. Funny how the article doesn't mention that.
ReplyDelete"...it was the teen’s “choice” to ride in the tool box (since there was no room inside the truck’s cab) and that the 6’ 3” boy kept the cover ajar during the trip."
ReplyDeleteSo what's the problem? The problem is the overreaching authority of government into every facet of our lives. A bunch of government bureaucrats without a callous on any of their hands trying to lord over us like gods. It's time to cut federal and state funding to the bone so we're not continuing to feed the very system that's harassing us and constraining us on a daily basis.
I thought most people rode in the truck? Tool box sounds warm...
ReplyDeleteWhere I am from, Springfield Vt, we ride in the back of the truck before we learn to ride bikes mostley through snowmobiling in the winter and back hauling trees in the summer.
You are a tool.
ReplyDeletea very dull one
Delete