Tyrone N. Butts
APE Reporter
(link expired - ed.)
The woman, who is from Somalia, said the child was being unruly, and that tying a child to a chair is a common form of discipline in her country.
Metro Police said they became aware of the situation when a four year-old child called 911 from an apartment on South 6th Street.
When police arrived at the house, they said the child told them he was worried about his two year-old brother, who was tied to a chair.
The boys' uncle and mother both told police that the younger child needed to be disciplined, and that's why they tied him to the chair by with a blanket around his leg.
”They made a statement to our detective that in Somalia[/COLO
R], where they're from, this is a common practice, but here, it's obviously illegal,”� said Nathan Shapiro of the Metro Police Department.
The Department of Childrens Services is investigating the incident, and the boys' mother could face child neglect charges.
The two children have been placed with other family members, at least temporarily.
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Memo to cops: What are you going to do when the fambly members eat da li'l chilluns? Dat's an Afreakan tradition too!
T.N.B.