After a fairly quiet morning in the police station a commotion was heard at the front entrance.
The boy, still struggling, was taken to the front counter.
The duty sergeant looked up. “What’s the little rascal been up to this time?”
“Shoplifting again, sarge.”
The sergeant shook his head. “Tut, tut. Still out there pinching stuff. Eh?”
The boy said nothing.
The constable continued. “When he was challenged, he started shouting obscenities. I would say that’s a case of disorderly conduct, sarge.”
The sergeant nodded and made a note.
“Before he could be evicted, he knocked over several stacks of products, then grabbed a can of paint and sprayed several packets of detergent. So, I think we should add vandalism.”
The sergeant made another note.
“It seems that when the manager tried to get him out of the store, the boy bit him. So, an assault, causing bodily harm needs to be added.”
The sergeant sighed and scribbled some more.
“Anyway, when I arrived I made him turn out his pockets and found several packets of marijuana. So, I think we need to add possession.”
“Alright, leave him with me, constable. I think a stern warning should do it.”
At that point a voice came from the Senior Sergeant’s office. “Just step in for a moment, will you?”
The senior man waved him to a chair. He stood thinking for a moment, then said, “Look, I can certainly see the point of view that you are approaching this from. However, I really feel that we need to take into account the fact that he’s your son!”