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This is about Caleb Pegues and the bomb incident (“Was explosive a kid’s prank or a felony?” June 9).
It’s been almost nine years since my son killed himself. Yes, he had problems. One evening those problems led him to begin lighting his clothing on fire.
Apparently a match landed in a waste container outside of a McDonald’s restaurant. The police wanted to question him about it, and we cooperated. About a year later he was charged with arson. The police stopped him, arrested him and had his car towed. The case dragged on for months. He finally escaped by killing himself.
My advice to other parents: Never ever allow the police to question your child about anything; hire a lawyer.

K. Gorham, Douglas County

READER COMMENTS

The police didn't drive your son to suicide, your inattention to his mental state of mind did.

Like beh, I don't know enough about the situation to judge it. But, unlike beh, I have the intelligence to realize that.

I wish people would realize that the police department is made up of people from our own community...just like you and me.

And just like every other career, there are good and bad people in it. We need to judge the individuals rather than the entity as a whole.

I grew up around cops and I know that many of them got into law enforcement because of sincere desire to serve their communities while providing for thei familie.

I also know a few who got into it because they craved being in a position of authority. These are the ones who are most likely to abuse their authority.Unfortunately, it's impossible for the department to know who these people are until they do something to warrant attention.

I, for one, am sick of people holding officer to higher standards than they hold themselves. Of course we expect them to have high standards but we should live by those same standards ourselves.

Thomas, you make a good point about police officers. They have the same faults and good points that the average person does and are suject to the same traps and pitfalls life involves. But, I need to make one point I think you skipped over. Is it not so that if people held themselves to a high moral and ethical standard, police would have nothing to do?

First: prank or not, after all the school shootings, school officials have little choice, but to overreact to every firecracker.
Second: this story, well, sounds kind of fishy. What led him to try to emulate Richard Prior, sounds like he was suicidal even before the arson charge. “Apparently a match landed in a waste container outside of a McDonald’s restaurant.” – What are the chances? The guy just stands there, minding his own business, shirt on fire, and would you believe, a lit mach just drops into the wastebasket. Here comes the bad police, seeing what happened no doubt from a nearby Dunkin Doughnuts, wanted to know why there is a flaming guy next to a flaming trashcan. They should of just put out the fire, pay for the shirt in cash.
“He finally escaped by killing himself.” – this is sad, kidding aside, what was he escaping, obviously tried to escape before?
My advice to parents from a parent: in cases like this, don’t waste your money on a lawyer after the fact, instead hire a competent mental healthcare professional.
And my advise to you K Gorham, next time you try to turn the public against the police, at least try make your story more believable, without the “my kid can’t do no wrong” attitude.

We shouldn't stereotype people, and we shouldn't use 'zero tolerance' policies to arrest kids for any little thing, no matter how inconsequential. Things such as expelling a student for leaving a butter knife in the bed of a pickup in the parking lot at school. Or, a 9 year old boy being kicked out of school because his mother left the paring knife in his lunchbox with the apple. Or, use your imagination. You can't judge an entire group of people by the actions of 1 individual, and you can't justly handle juvenile actions with a '1 size fits all' policy to punish children. We shouldn't say all Mexicans are illegals, we shouldn't say all who smoke pot are worthless druggies, we shouldn't say homosexuals are perverts. We should strive to see the best in all people, and treat all with respect, unless they prove by their actions that they do not deserve respect.

I'm gonna have to say that Ms. Gorham is just trying to blame someone else for her son's moronic decision...hummm...common thread in America today. It's always someone elses fault. She should have been a better parent and her pyromaniac son may still be alive. Her son DID commit a crime if a match "fell" into a trash can. I highly doubt it was an accident.

"Apparently a match landed in a waste container outside of a McDonald’s restaurant. "

How in the He^$ did that happen? I would say criminal charges were entirely appropriate! Maybe if mom would have been paying better attention to her pyromaniac son, and not blaming everyone else for her little perfect son's issues, he may still be alive.

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