Posted by raidermatt on August 17, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You have got to be kidding me. Why would the father even be brought up on charges?

Posted by michielyn on August 17, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah, it was probably best to let them fight. Or maybe he should have laid his hands on him and pulled him off and been charged with something worse.

You've gotta be kidding me!

Posted by Snowdog on August 17, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a stupid charge.

You must be kidding me.

Posted by michael on August 17, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Next up: "A Bremerton man, John Doe, was brought up on charges today for looking crossly at the neighbor's dog. The owner of the dog claims the dog felt bad after the stern look and that the neighbor should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The dog's owner may file civil charges to pay for psychological counseling for the dog, a pure bred and inclined to fits of nervousness, despair, and diarrhea.

"That's what I'm talking about," said Doe in an interview with Seabury Blair of the Sun. "It's the diarrhea that got him the stern look in the first place! It was on my lawn!"

Posted by Foxyfox82 on August 17, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! I can't believe the law today. I belive that spraying with a hose is a good way to break up a fight.

Posted by dogbark1955 on August 17, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why is this news?

Posted by beemerwright on August 17, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Give me a break! People don't give the criminal justice system the respect that it deserves because of stupidity like charging the dad with fourth degree assault!

Posted by MrsM on August 17, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The 12 year old will probably sue the parent for physiological damages saying he now has a fear of garden hoses and water. He will probably will millions of dollars and the taxpayers will be stuck with the cost of the trial.

Posted by donger on August 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That's why we need more birth control and more adults-only communities. You'd have to be freakin' insane to have anything to do with kids these days.

Posted by kidnapcounty on August 17, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

another good example that kidnap county is hard at work protecting are safety from these dangerous criminals.I cant even imagine how busy the county has been handling all the super soaker and water ballon fights these last couple of hot days.

Posted by dcr4ever on August 17, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You guys about covered it- pretty funny, is everyone in agreement for a change?

Posted by Eaton_Dogfud on August 17, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It sounds to me like the 13 year-old is basically stealing, and the father doesn't make him give back what is not his. To make matters worse, he grabs the 12 year old & sprays him with a hose. No wonder his son is such a little punk!

If I was the 12 y/o's father, I'd be pissed. The police charging the father of the 13 y/o thief is the only thing keeping the 12 y/o's father from taking matters into his own hands.

Posted by dadof2 on August 17, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Like I always say anything to bring the courts more money! I can't stand the legal system in this town from the cops to the judges it's ridiculous. Imagine breaking up a fight with a hose! Since when did water become assault? I guess they should stake out the community pool for kids who didn't want to get pushed in that would surely bring in some revenue. 12 year old shouldn't have come over looking for trouble.

Posted by familien1 on August 17, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"...The 12-year-old had gone over to his friend's house ...with another friend to retrieve some bicycle parts he'd traded with the 13-year-old...."

What was the 12-year-old's friend doing while the 12 yo was fighting with the 13 yo?

I've turned the hose on dog fights and usually kept a water spray bottle handy. All dogs involved got wet and can't imagine hosing down only one kid in a kid's fight. How did the adult miss watering down his own son?

The adult should not have touched that child nor hosed him down...unless the child was a physical danger to himself or anyone. That doesn't seem to be the case here.

Does that adult usually use force on kids? Hosing down anyone is using force or intimidation ...either in play between kids or trying to hurt someone with a pressure spray.
I know of a kid spraying a lawn with the hose and her kid sister when the kid sister ran into the house, stood in the doorway and taunted the sister with the hose that she couldn't get her. Not true.

The sister and hose ran full force through the house spraying the little sister until the hose length ended and both slid to an abrupt slushy stop on the living room carpet.
As I see it... Sharon O'Hara

Posted by ARM on August 17, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank God a Cop did not drive by during my latest family water fight! By the way I won, my daughter [30] now was doused and inside the door before I was done!!!! My grandkids were helping reel out the hose. Definetly child abuse!!!!That kid needs a good spraying. Bet he was the kid at the lake whining about other kids splashing!

Posted by MrsM on August 17, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Perhaps he was charged with waterboarding?

Posted by Cean on August 17, 2008 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I suspect that there is some history here that would shed light on what really might have happened. I remember "trades" with neighborhood bullies that ended up with some kid getting cheated. Sometimes the kid who got cheated was my little brother and I would have to go help him retrieve his stuff. I never had to hit anyone to get his stuff back.

The kids were out of line for fighting and the dad was way out of line for entering into it with the hose and possibly touching a kid not his own. If you can't stop a couple of junior high kids with your words, you may as well give up on being a dad. I hope his son has some other adult examples to teach him how to get along in the world.

Posted by bigjoef on August 17, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

lol. It's just a little water, give me a break.

Posted by ARM on August 17, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cean
You bring a whole different perspective into this. Once a kid took my kids shoe and I got a call from the school that a kid was injured by my sons, mind you my sons were in kindergarten and it was a 6th grader that was the thief and injured one. The injured kid stole another pair of shoes that summer again from one of my 5 year old sons. Worse thing he found out was the kindergarten boys were the youngest of 6 boys!!!!

Posted by aggrav8 on August 17, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wasn't that traffic circle fatality also because of an altercation involving a garden hose? What is the world coming to? But I do agree that the parent should have handled the problem differently.

Posted by lynnwa on August 17, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

all i can say is ? great story!

Posted by dahl on August 17, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Must have been a slow day for charging people. This man is being hosed. Literally.

Posted by ladyjoe9876 on August 17, 2008 at 11:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Geez.. the cops must be slow writing speeding tickets or something. Now they have to go after a father and a waterhose. Hmmm.. I wonder how the hose managed to grab the boy by it's shoulders. Must be alive or something. Drop the case prosecuters.. Go after the real criminals and give that boy a spankin for lying. LOL..

Posted by phonofreak on August 17, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What a joke!!!!!! When I was a kid, neighbors watched out for their kids, and other kids, too. Especially when you are watching a kid or your kids have friends over. How do you know the dad touched the 12 year old at all? Kids will say almost anything to get attention. This society has been so wimpified and politically correct, that is why kids are the way they are. If this case comes to a jury trial, I hope this dad will be acquitted and make a laughing stock of this judicial system

Posted by wvwoody74 on August 18, 2008 at 6:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The man has not been charged with anything. The police officer did not arrest anyone, all he did was write a report and forwarded to the prosecutor. The prosecutor will decide if anyone is charged, which I guarantee he won't be charged with assault. Someone might be charged for damaging the bike.

Posted by Chollkamp on August 18, 2008 at 6:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Most of you are saying that its just a little water... but the dad should have known better. Who's the adult here? The bike, or at least the parts in question should have be returned in good and the trade called off if an agreement couldn't be reached. I am sure that the 12yr olds parents were floored when they learned that an ADULT acted so childlish over a bike! Come On.

Posted by Tang on August 18, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Someones on your property persisting in a fight with your son. You ask them to leave and they don't so you use a hose to deter the current course of action. Sounds logical to me.
Although I would have tried to find out what the argument was about in the first place in case MY kid was the one in the wrong to begin with. But if that was tried and the kid persisted a good spraying is in order. I'm curious as to the events that led up to the spraying.
Still no excuse for the damage to the bike.

Posted by Mousekawitz on August 18, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Donger, marry me. ;-)

Posted by jlharless on August 18, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We have to keep things in perspective. If the CIA/Army cannot use water to interrogate Al Quaida terrorists, surely it is a crime to do so with a 12-year-old boy. The father should have called the kid's ACLU lawyer and scheduled a proper inquest and trial. I'll bet this man is a secret operative for the Bush Administration, possibly even an employee of Blackwater or even (gasp!) Haliburton.

Posted by kitsap_peninsula_mom on August 18, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Gawd, I would use a hose in a split second on a couple of 12 yo boys fighting. Are you kidding me?

That is their wild stage, between 11-14 my boys are so hormonally charged looking to fight and argue, I want to beat them. But since I am a good mom, I have to just threaten them with bodily harm. Like removing television and gaming equipment with a sledgehammer.

A water hose sounds like a marvelous idea. I am using that next time my three teenage, 6'+ 200# boys begin to wrestle in the house.

Posted by rosiemuffysticks on August 18, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good grief! This has got to be one of the stupidest things I've ever read! Since when is it wrong to stop children from HITTING each other? Should he have just let them continue? Obviously "using your words" wasn't working at that point. He wasn't throwing rocks or sticks. He wasn't whipping them with the hose. I'm fairly certain that he hosed down his own kid, too, given the character of flowing water.

Sounds to me like both those boys need to be pilloried! The reason so many kids are so awful these days is because parents are punished for trying to bring them up right!

Posted by hosscow on August 18, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Were the kids charged with assault? It sounds like they were the ones fighting.

The kid probably wrecked his bike running home to mommy and daddy.

Indian giver. A trade is a trade.

Posted by mphayes3 on August 18, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It just goes to prove once again that the time has come to ban all garden hoses.

How many of these incidents must we see before we finally and forever ban garden hoses. Good grief people look at what having a loose unlocked garden hose can do.

Posted by peanutbutter715 on August 18, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't believe this is even happening.. If my tax dollars go to the prosecuter (state) to charge this man I guess I'm going to have to start complaining...... Who should I complain to? The 12 yr. old parents need to be spanked for acting like a 12 yr. old.......

Posted by stanleydearl on August 18, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If this would have been two woman at a car wash on s street spraying each other with teeshirts on NO ONE would have said a word. To me the teeshirt is worse, but Port Orchard allows the barista, and other crap yet a guy PREVENTS a possible fight and he is in trouble. Barring more information this currently takes the cakes for Stupid Charge of the Week.

Posted by cjcampbell on August 18, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I cannot imagine a jury that would convict this guy. It is outrageous that he would face charges at all. The cop who wrote them out should himself be charged with dereliction of duty, a felony, and the 12-year old's parents sued for defamation.

Posted by closertohome68 on August 18, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just goes to show that kids have all the rights and adults have none. What about tresspassing charges for the other boy, or since they were fighting, assault charges on them??? this is such a screwed up legal system.

Posted by bryanchamp1973 on August 18, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Grabbing his shoulder might have gone too far, but not spraying water, by any stretch. The "victim" is lucky- most people carry guns these days.

Posted by Busymom41980 on August 18, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it's funny. The adult acted just like the children. Maybe they all should have gotten a time out in the corner.

Posted by yy on August 18, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He should have begged the kid to behave and pleaded with him while offering him some candy so that he be a little monster.

Posted by Punkinhead on August 18, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The hose was actually the appropriate thing to do. However, the father should have returned the boy's bike parts that were rightfully his, or at the very least, sat them both down and get both sides of the story. As it was, the father is now in trouble.
Stupid, but true.

Posted by tgrumpy110 on August 18, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is no wonder kids are taking guns to school these days look at the parents raising them. I was raised with values and morale's and with discipline and that is the way I am raising my kids. If the 13 year old had parents that cared they would have taught him right from wrong.Seem's to me the parent needs to grow up and act like an adult and start teaching his kids right from wrong. So to all of you who agree with the boy who stole and feel bad for the dad gee if it was your stuff that was stolen you would be mad or would you

Posted by NavalAviator on August 18, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

OK, I want on this jury. I want to be foreman. I will bring back a not guilty quicker than the OJ jury.

Posted by Busymom41980 on August 18, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They traded parts, not stole. Get off your high horse people. The story is funny. Some of you people need to relax. You don't always have to preach about the morale high road. BREATH it's all going to be okay.

Posted by rollins on August 18, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't believe that so many people responded to this un-news worthy story. Ya gotta to laugh.

Posted by PanchoVilla on August 18, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I bet dad will be charged with assault.

Posted by medfed on August 18, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with rollins! All this mail over this story and citing things such as "moral highground" but letting the use of terms such as "indian giver" slide! Shame!!!

Posted by donboa on August 18, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It was a hot day, the boys needed the cold water to cool off. Oh, for God sake people! Is it not time to back up and get a life. After the boys had time to cool off then the dad's could have discussed it with them. Maybe the other boy does not have a dad, which of course is sad.

Posted by 2Woofs on August 18, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What would Ward Cleaver do?

Posted by kidnapcounty on August 18, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i bet the officer expected the father to go in and call 911 and let them fight until the authorities arrived to handle it.How long do you think it will be until this county requires a permit and license to operate a garden hose?no joking aside it more than likely wont be long they try to regulate and control everything else we do,

Posted by NavalAviator on August 18, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If he pulled them apart, he could have been nailed for assult. Garden hose was a great alternative. I certainly hope that the DA leaves this one alone.

Posted by emerytallon on August 18, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i dont have children but i do know that if someone sprayed my kid with a hose and grabbed his shoulder i would be over at the adults house asap. the father should have intervened before the boys got physical and if he did have to break it up he shouldve grabbed both boys and held them apart, not spray one with a hose then grab him

Posted by centrix on August 19, 2008 at 1:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Chollkamp:
As per your post;
>>Most of you are saying that its just a little water... but the dad should have known better. Who's the adult here? The bike, or at least the parts in question should have be returned in good and the trade called off if an agreement couldn't be reached. I am sure that the 12yr olds parents were floored when they learned that an ADULT acted so childlish over a bike! Come On.<<

The dad should have known better? Are you kidding me? Do you have any perception of the kind of crap that goes on today with the law? What's yelling going to do? NOTHING! What's grabbing the kids breaking up the fight going to do? GET THE FATHER ARRESTED! What do you do as a parent at that point? Judges are such puppets these days because all they want is a good image. Back in the day the father could have slapped one kid off another and called his parents. At that point the parents and children would resolve it on their own. Society is getting so careful that we don't hurt other people or their feelings because we're so scared of getting sued that we'll end up in jail. I'm only 27 and it just makes me so angry that someone could be so ignorant. I hope to god more poeple with my view end up in the government so that we can put a stop to this scared image that we are putting on society! No wonder we end up on the laughing stock in other countries!

Posted by kapauldo on August 19, 2008 at 4:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

(linkback) Fair or Foul? Father breaks up teen fight with water hose, arrested for assault [VOTE] - http://www.thriveorfail.com/910fa

Posted by familien1 on August 19, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"...do we boycott the Sun for printing this stuff?..."

Are you kidding? Boycott the KS? How about boycotting the people involved in the stories instead?
Even better boycott the readers who prefer such stories and raise them to the level of 'news'...blame the readers, if you must blame someone...boycott them.

I can remember back when they had full staff and I stopped reading the paper for 'glorifying' unwed motherhood, for example. One issue had a four page spread of the joys of unwed mom's and their babies.
I'd like to see a follow up ... now 20 or 30 years later.

Today's paper offers something for everyone...and is educational for me.
Sharon O'Hara

Posted by rfd5b4 on August 19, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The "news gods" at Kitsap Sun really know their business - to present news as entertainment.

This story, with all the postings, sure has been entertaining to a lot of people.

Can't see anyone boycotting this stuff anytime soon.

Posted by linesider37 on August 21, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Omg!! This is what the state is turning into? they should have called the swat team. what a joke kitsap county is and all of washington state. The Liberals need to wake up and stop being so dramatic. its water people, not a gun. good grief.

Posted by dennybop on August 21, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Whether you believe this is funny. ridiculous or insane, I bet none of you would be too happy if a stranger grabbed and dowsed your kid with a hose. If the guy did it to an adult it would be assault, but you think it's OK to do this to a 12 year old kid? The responsible thing to do would be to tell the kid to leave, and if he didn't there's more suitable threats and means of enforcement. He had no more right to put is hands (or his water, I suppose) than he would if it were a grown-up. Adults have no right to grab, push or dowse a someone elses child. This guy was acting as juvenile as the two boys.

Posted by Tang on August 22, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If it's my 12 year old being asked to leave and refusing than I don't have a problem with them being hosed down. I would expect my kids to come get ME if they are in the right and the adults from the offending party are getting involved.

If someone ask you to leave their property, you have to leave their property. If you only get hosed in order to get you to move consider yourself off lucky.

Posted by dgb on August 22, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was going to comment then I decided it was not worth it.

Posted by sparrow on August 22, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As a matter of fact earlier this summer I hosed down my little 5 yr old boy for being a punk. He had been spraying his 7 yr old sister with a hose to the point that she was crying. I felt no guilt whatsoever in hosing him down. I promptly got him a nice warm towel and a change of clothes and a hug. We had a nice talk about how we need to treat others. If my child is truly not listening to an adult asking him to leave his property, I would have no issue with the adult hosing down my child. The worst that it could do is damage any gizmo the kid might have. Some 12 yr olds carry a cell phones or a DS. Even if my kid had his gizmo ruined, I would probably tell him it was his fault in not respecting others. If the other child had in fact stolen his property, well that should be turned over to adults and or law enforcement to deal with.

Posted by dgb on August 23, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sparrow, right on!

Posted by TFJSE6891 on August 25, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm guessing that the piece of information no-one is able to read is that the hose dousing father "may" have left prints on the other boy, and this would be the proof the the authorities would be basing the suit on.

As for the boys fighting..that's what they do, then they cool off, and the parent(s) make them make mends with one another... at least thats what would happen when I was a child and I punched the bully who teased me about my lisp... My mom made me go make mends w/him afterwards, and then do chores w/o allowance for the week. But then again that was back in the 1970's too.

Posted by liberalgeorge on August 27, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And I couldn't even get the Kitsap County Sheriff to take a report about an almost $7,000 fraudulent insurance claim that was paid.

Posted by bookworm on August 27, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i can"t believe this! I don't think any adult should put his hands on any child but his own, but getting so worked up about water? I am more worried about the kid that damaged a bike, and wouldn't return parts. A thief is something that starts small, and ends up becoming a problem for all of us. The law enforcement in this county need to get the level three child molesters, wife beaters, and thieves, not people with hoses!

Posted by dawnw1000 on August 28, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A good "hosing" was going to happen anyway. Be it from the father, the kids, or the KCSD.

Posted by ARM on August 28, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

bookworm the bike parts were traded. I am curious if the 13 year old got what he traded back. kids trade stuff all the time

Posted by grammamarge666 on August 29, 2008 at 1:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just know that my garden plants are forming a criminal case against me right now... The sidewalk will probably get in on it too... Whats a woman to do?? Dang I just got word that my car wants in on the case too... Maybe I should skip state or something??LMFAO

Just MY opinion!!

Posted by dadof2 on August 31, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

After reading several more comments on this topic I can see why kids are out of whack these days. You have parents in here that you can tell cater to thier kids every second. And you wonder why kids have no ethics,or morals now adays. Shocking!