Child Placed in Dog Pen During Car Ride

(St. Louis, MO) - A couple could face criminal charges for letting a 10-year-old child ride in the back of their pickup truck, inside a dog pen.

After getting several calls from other drivers, police stopped the truck on Interstate 270 near St. Louis on Wednesday afternoon.

The adults in the truck are friends of the boy's family.

They told police there's was no room for the boy inside the truck, so they thought he would be safe riding in the dog pen.

The boy wasn't hurt and police released the adults after questioning them.

By Amy~moderator on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 05:11 pm:

This is crazy! He wouldn't be hurt riding in the dog pen???? was their excuse?

By My2cuties on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 05:27 pm:

I am sorry but that is so crazy I had to laugh, good thing the boy wasn't hurt. I would be 1 upset mother it that was my son!

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 07:29 pm:

I have thought for a long time that pickup trucks and children don't mix. It seems very hard to have a safe way to transport a child in a pickup truck. JMO.

By Cat on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 08:13 pm:

That's about the stupidist thing I've ever heard. IMHO, they should be charged with child endangerment. Absolutely unacceptable. Thank goodness he wasn't hurt.

By Tink on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 08:23 pm:

What were they thinking meaning the police, right? When they let the adults go after questioning them? I can't believe that isn't considered some kind of child endangerment!

By Sunny on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 10:24 am:

I don't think they were thinking at all.

By Dandjmom on Friday, April 1, 2005 - 12:16 pm:

The cops must have been late for doughnuts, didn't want to do the paperwork for an arrest and then follow threw if it went to court, right? Still not a good excuse but what other reason would they have to let these folks go on there way? And if there wasn't enough room to transport the child, why was he even riding with you anyway.

If it was me, I wonder if the cops would have let me go for assult if I told them that I just had to show them what could have possibly happen by putting my child in a dog pen.