Columnist: How to wreck a boy’s life
March 16th, 2008Experts say an Oakland County detective ran roughshod over a 13-year-old boy with Asperger’s in a sexual abuse case against his parents
Detroit Free Press columnist Brian Dickerson documents a videotaped police interrogation of a 13-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome. Dickerson says Detective Joseph Brousseau repeatedly lied to the boy, telling him that police had videotapes depicting him in sexual situations with his father and sister. The interrogation was part of an investigation into charges that were later dropped.
Legal experts who have reviewed the videotaped interrogation, which was obtained by the Free Press, say it reveals multiple violations of the rules Michigan law prescribes for questioning juveniles who may have witnessed sexual abuse.
“I would not hesitate to use the word ‘reprehensible,’ ” David Moran, associate dean of the Wayne State University School of Law, told me after watching the interrogation at the Free Press’ request.
… Moran said the boy’s youth and what Moran called obvious signs of an autistic disorder made the detective’s use of deception and coercion especially difficult to excuse.
“The officer was using tactics that are used to break down adult criminal suspects,” Moran said. “It’s remarkable those tactics didn’t work. But he did succeed in inflicting a lot of damage on an extremely vulnerable young man.”
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on Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 7:23 am and is filed under Asperger's, abuse, criminal justice.
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March 17th, 2008 at 5:12 am
This is an outrage. It is another example of police abusing their power, and it is time for legislation that would punish these criminals cloaked in blue. The lieutenant’s response defending this overeager and reckless detective is typical. Cops always defend cops … The Thin Blue Line Wall is alive and well in Bloomfield Hills. I feel for this family and for others who will be tormented; if action is not taken to prevent gross misconduct by police officers. I fear we will have many more victims such as this poor innocent family.