7 Year-Old Arrested in Baltimore for Sitting on a Dirt Bike

Hasn't 'zero Tolerance' Gone a Little Too Far?

Last Tuesday (3/13/07) a 7 year-old was ripped off of his dirt bike, handcuffed, and brought down to the police station in east Baltimore. What was the reason for this act by the police? Gerard Mungo Jr. was sitting on his dirt bike which his father had bought for him on a side walk. The dirt bike was not turned on, but before Gerard Mungo Jr. could realize what was happening, police officers had already grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

Was Gerard Mungo Jr. causing trouble? What was he doing that could have been so threatening to the public? Gerard Mungo Jr. in fact broke the law, but he was simply waiting for his father to come pick him up, while he sat on his dirt bike on the sidewalk. As some police officers drove by they did a Uturn, called a pick up truck and arrested Gerard. The dirt bike was confiscated from the childs home,and Gerard Mungo Jr. was taken down to the Eastern District headquarters where he was photographed and fingerprinted as if he committed a felony.

A police spokesman said that dirt bikes are in fact illegal and pose a threat to pedestrians and drivers.

Gerard Mungo Jr.'s mother, Likisa Dinkins, called the policemen's suprervisor after the incident. Later the supervisor came to their house with backup and told Lisika Dinkins that her son, 7 year-old Gerard Mungo Jr., was in fact going to jail for the illegal act that he had committed.

Riding dirt bikes are illegal to ride in Baltimore, Maryland due to the serious threat they pose on pedestrians and drivers. People have even been killed due to the use of dirt bikes, which helps back up policemen's theories of zero tolerance towards punishment when dealing with a culprit whom has been riding a dirt bike, or another vehicle of the same sort.

Many lawyers have contacted Likisa Dinkins offering their services, but it seems what Likisa Dinkins wants most is a mere apology.

Gerard Mungo Jr. was released the same day after being photographed, interrogated, and finger printed by the police officers at the Eastern District headquarters in Baltimore.