Woman Drags Child on Leash Through Verizon Store
By James Falconer on Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 AM PST In Random, Verizon, Videos
I know this isn’t exactly mobile news, but the incident here took place in a Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Store, and hey, it’s Sunday… time for a little off-beat news. Supremely ignorant and abusive mother Melissa Catherine Smith-Means was caught on video dragging her child through a Verizon Store on a kiddy-leash. I’m speechless. Check out the video above for all the evidence you’ll ever need.
I’m thankful that she was indeed arrested, as it looks like none of the store employees or onlookers were going to do anything about it. Shameless… Shocking… Disgusting. Hopefully this woman gets what she deserves.
Hey, Happy Sunday! 
[Via: Techeblog]
Wow i saw the title of the article but i did not actually think i was literally going to see someone dragging the child like that through a Verizon Wireless Store. Holy Cow.
Do you have childern?
I do not have childern but 10 nieces/nephews.
We do not see the before, hear any sound or see the after to make any judgement of “Shameless… Shocking… Disgusting”
I have seen what might look worse then this kind of activity first hand where the child was “enjoying” it and of course was heard “Let’s do it again!!!”
Plenty of kids want to ride motorcycles, drive the car, or play with guns. Regardless of whether the child thought it was fun, or wanted to do it, an adult should know better. If you kid wants to make paper wings and try to fly off of the roof, you can expect to get arrested if you help him do it.
Even if the child wants to be dragged on the ground, that is unacceptable. The child could have been hurt, and since they are children, they do not know what is best for them. Thats why good parents and adults must look after them. Its also not acceptable to be pulled along the floor in public, either as a ride, or as a method of locomotion. I think its pretty clear that she doesn’t care anymore.
This is disgusting. If you do not know how to treat or deal with a child, you shouldnt have one.
I agree with Richard. Without further information on this, it’s just tabloid sensationalism… *rollseyes*
I don’t care what the kid did before hand, you just do not drag a fucking child at all…..it’s disgusting behavior, Richard. There are other ways of punishment….dragging a child is not one of them. And if you think this was called for, hopefully you never have children.
Arrested? For sliding a child across a carpeted floor?
Was the child injured? Doesn’t look like it to me. My guess is that either Richard (above) is right and it was some sort of game, or more likely it was a stubborn child engaging in a war of wills with Mom. If the child was on a leash, that says something about what kind of kid it is. People who have never dealt with a difficult child are quick to publicly censure parents who are driven to extremes like using a child leash, but for some kids that’s the only way you can take them out of the house. If Mom was driven to that in spite of having to endure constant public tsk-tsking, it speaks volumes.
It’s easy for people who have never been in charge of a difficult kid to offer armchair criticism of other people’s parenting. Snap judgments of “shocking… disgusting” and automatic arrests stemming from those judgments give the child the upper hand in parental wars of will. It’s not like the kid was being dragged on concrete and gravel. I think the situation was like this: “Get up and walk!” “NO!!!” “If you won’t walk, I’ll drag you, is that what you want?” “NO!!!” “Fine then, here we go.”
@Richard
Have you ever skidded with bare flesh on that kind of office carpet? Just a few inches of exposed flesh and that child would have very painful carpet burns.
She’s not even keeping an eye out to make sure OTHER people don’t step on him or hurt him.
So yes, it IS shameless, shocking, and disgusting.
It is obvious children act out and YES punihsment is well deserved but dragging a child, on a leash no less, is flat out abuse. That kind of punishment is not called for. There are other ways of punishing a child.
The author writes “Hopefully this woman gets what she deserves.”
So what exactly does this woman “deserve?” To have her kid taken away? Given what we see on the video, she would probably welcome some time away from the little terror.
So, what is an appropriate punishment for this mom?
Child probably threw a temper tantrum and she just wasn’t hearing it.
Honestly, unless I see a parent punching a kid, or leaving them in a car….I don’t go crazy and cry “ABUSE” at the top of my lungs.
Some of those little bastards are just that, bastards.
Mike and vanessa: Look at the video again. Do you see the child making ANY attempt to get up? If the child did not choose to be dragged, why is he not struggling to get on his feet? He’s lying there like a dead weight.
That kid could have been up and walking at any time. He just didn’t want to, and obviously preferred to be dragged rather than do what he was told.
I don’t think this was intended as punishment, exactly; I think it was just Mom having had enough resistance and saying, “We’re going whether you want to mind or not.”
when i was a kid, me and my sister used to take turns dragging each other around the house while holding on to rope. it was fun… and did not hurt.
this is blowed out of proportion because it was done in a public area.
i am gonna assume the child was being stubborn…
This is the type of parent who uses a kiddy leash in the first place, therefore impressing upon her child that it is no more than a dog to her.
This lady failed at parenting long before she dragged that kid through a store.
I totally understand difficult children…DRAGGING your kid through the store is unacceptable, if your kid is deadweighting, you pick them up and carry them.
I agree with Richard and dogon. Admittedly this was not the smartest choice to make, but I won’t pass judgment on the abuse allegation.
@Joe
I’m fine with my kids riding motorcyles, as long as I, or someone I trust, am driving. I even let my kids set on my lap and drive while we are going up the driveway. That is one of the best memories I have with my Dad while growing up.
people are doing a lot of assuming the child did something wrong. you dont know any such thing. if the least had been around his waist or torso or wrist, thats one thing, but she was dragging the child by the neck, THE NECK! only a fool would deny the risk of injury or death. you dont even drag a pet by the neck like that. in fact to put a leash around the child’s neck, even without dragging is abusive. thats just common sense.
I wish one of you sorry saps were there to give the kid a hug so you could’ve gotten a huge electrical shock! My dad used to hold both my hands and swing me around like a helicopter when I was a kid and I thought it was awesome. I can’t even begin to see how this is child abuse, let alone enough to get people up in arms.
The funny thing is, the same wackaloos would be the ones to blame the parents when the kid turns out to be a monster with no respect and goes on a shooting spree. Ohhhhh where were the parents, where was the discipline? Bleh.
To all you people who think this is ok, weather it was a game or not, did you read the actual news article about it? And I quote…
“The child had visible marks on the neck from the incident.”
Moreover, do you see the pace at which the woman is walking? And her stance? She’s mad, and being someone who works in childcare, one of the first things you learn is if a child makes you made enough to drag him across a floor, then you need to step back from the situation and calm down.
This woman was 100% in the wrong. It clearly was not a game. Yes, the kid might have been being a brat, but the mother may also just have a short fuse. In any case, it’s NEVER ok to drag a child like she was doing in that video. Acting with anger towards a child is NOT ok, and anyone saying anything otherwise should be ashamed.
I work in retail and sometimes I wish parents would have their kids on leashes because they behave worse than dogs, tearing up our phones, pushing the panic button, etc. Ofcourse not dragging the child, that;s a bit extreme.
I agree with everyone saying that the child was being stubborn…i myself has two stubborn kids who likes to show off in public because i would be afraid to correct them fearing someone will yell out “Child Abuse” ….I do not agree with the mother dragging her son through the whole store..but who is any of us to say what we would have done if we was in her shoes…whatever her actions would have been if it was caught on tape..its automatcally consider “ChildAbuse”..I myself now will tapped that ass..my motto is “If you embrass me..I will embrass you” and it works!!
This woman was definitely pushed to the limits!!!! Look at how she walks with such disgust. Her pace screams “ok! if this is how you want it then fine” Plus watch again she almost didn’t clear the edge of that shelf with the kid. I have a child with mild autism who often burst and acts out in public. and no way do i act like that with my child BUT scary to say i certainly have been that that limit. Im not saying that her behavior is ok cause its not i just kinda of have a sense of how she may feel she needs more patience and a shopping buddy.
Much of the difference of opinion here seems to stem from the idea, amongst many of those calling “child abuse,” that this child was being dragged by the neck. Those of us who know what a child harness is, what it’s function is, how it is designed, and how it works, understand that the only physical danger to this child was rugburn, which he could have avoided at any point by simply standing up and walking. Does that make it acceptable to drag a child around in public? That’s a debatable point. But let’s not get melodramatic, here.
I have four children and moderately disciplined them. Because of this they were well behaved and other adults enjoyed their company. I knew other parents who never disciplined their children. All parents hated them and their children.
What if this lady has a bad back and cannot pick up the child. If he doesn’t come with her, should she abandon the child, call 911, beat the child in public. Sometimes those littla b******* need a good kick in the butt. If the State is not going to allow people to discipline their children, then everyone should show up and give them back. National “let us discipline our children or you can have them all day.” Most of the people complaining either don’t have children or will probably be one of those “oh, don’t worry my little precious Johnny just loves to express himself by hitting your child with a bat- isn’t he cute”
children were better in the 50’s- now they are mostly spoiled beasts.
All you people saying this is the fault of negro culture really should look at your OWN ignorant childrens.
If the little brat had ran out into the street and got hit by a bus, everyone would be yelling, “She should have done anything to keep her child under control, even if meant putting a leash on him and dragging him through the store!!!”
The woman was darned if she did or if she didn’t.
Imagine how much of a pain in the ass that kid is, that the kid would rather get dragged across the floor than admit that they aren’t the boss. That kid is the textbook definition of ’spoiled rotten to the core’. If you’re gonna arrest this lady, I guess you better arrest every parent doling out a spanking in McDonald’s parking lot because little jimmy jerk is fighting tooth and nail to stay in the ball pit 5 more seconds.
What if my senile little grandmother couldn’t be trusted not to wander off in a store and into traffic? What if she decided she didn’t want to come with me when I left the store? What if she raised her voice and made a fuss? Would I be justified in dragging her across a store by a harness and leash?
Some of the posters here obviously hate children or they wouldn’t have such an adversarial, punishing attitude toward them. I shudder to think what violence and contempt their own kids must be going through. Most of them would punch a guy in the face if they caught him dragging his DOG around like that.
As a parent of a 5 year old, I can see how this could happen. There have been countless times my child has misbehaved to the point of throwing herself on the floor and screaming or even running off from me or becoming ‘dead weight’ when I try to pick her up and remove her from the situation.
So before this woman is judged for her obvious fustration with her kids behavior maybe people should realize that there are children who have serious behavior issues.
Children are very much akin to pets so sometimes they must be dragged about when they will not listener. Good for this mother getting the child out of that store the best way she could think of and not causing more of a disruption by letting her child be that “spoiled little brat”.
False analogy with the grandmother – SHE’S AN ADULT.
Leave the senile, old biddy behind and the authorities can throw her in a home.
As a parent, you’re on the hook. Some people obviously don’t have children and think Leave It To Beaver is reality. You’ve got to be a lot harder on the Beaver than Ward was sometimes in the real world.
I think more parents should drag their kids across the floor on leashes.
These leashes are not like dog collars around the neck, and there was no harm to the kid. There’s no audio, so how do you know that he’s not enjoying it?
If I were there and the kid had been acting out, I would have applauded her action.
I do not care what was going on this mother had no right at all to drag her child through a store on a leash, this is not an animal its a human being.
She is one sick mother. She needs some very serious help. and I am glad she got locked up.
Looks to me like that little fu**ker was being stubborn, I would have dragged his ass to!
Arrested? What a sad statement about our society when parents can’t discipline unruly children without being arrested. That lady was showing restraint. She didn’t hit him or scream at him. She calmly removed the child from the store. We didn’t see what led up to the act. Maybe the kid was throwing a tantrum. Maybe he is always difficult and she’d had to resort to this method before. We don’t know. I bet she didn’t knock him down and then drag him away. I’m sure the kid threw himself to the ground and refused to get up. While not the ideal solution, maybe this was a sure fire way to get the kid out of the store without bothering other patrons. Grow up people. This lady was taking charge in a calm way.
I wonder what she bought?
If you watch the video, the child is obviously being pulled from the middle of the upper back, not the neck. That verifies the use of a child harness.
For those of you that don’t know, it’s similar to a hiking backpack, with 2 arm straps that go over/under the shoulders, and another that goes around the waist. This child was being dragged by the torso, and not by the neck.
Furthermore, yes, some children require harnesses. Blah blah blah parenting skills. You know your kids, you know when you’re going to be in situations where you can’t control them 100% of the time, and you come prepared.
If the child was previously throwing a tantrum, what are her options?
a) leave the child there and walk out, a great display of parenting skills.
b) spank the child, again, with consequences of that action
c) threaten the child in public – “Johnny, stop that, or you won’t get any dinner” – again, this leads to questions of child neglect. Johnny also may know that Mom will feed him anyway. Empty threats counteract any real lessons.
d) bargain and plead with the child – “We can go to the Toy Store if you stop”. What does this teach the kid? Act out, and they can get what they want. Who’s in control?
e) leave with the child. This is usually the fastest way to keep “the scene the child creates” short, and avoids all the public questioning…on the condition you can physically remove the child.
I welcome any comments.
@libertylaw
I call bullsh!t, shenanigans, whatever.
First off, I was never disciplined physically. NEVER. I was a kid that all the parents liked. And, I turned out pretty damn well. Well adjusted, good job, don’t drink and don’t do drugs. Plus, I was raised by a single mother. Shocking, isn’ it? So, physical discipline does not equal good children.
And, to say that children were better in the 50’s is just dumb. Children are the same no matter what the time period/generation. The spoiled ones stick out more than the good ones. There were spoiled kids in the 50’s. Don’t get all wrapped up in your nostalgia for a bygone time that was just an illusion. Everything “good” about the 50’s nuclear family was a facade that hid the truth.
Are you people serious? I hope those of you who find this appropriate parenting are sterile and single! If this witch does this in public, what horrors are committed in the privacy of the home? As for no reaction from the child, “she likes it” that is what men who beat their wives say. Kids can be a pain, but this “mother” was on a mission and no little brat was going to interfere with a new cell. Wow, as long as she has her priorities. And SHAME on those who watched and did nothing.
Yes, it probably wasn’t the best choice this mother has ever made, but I find it fascinating that people are so willing to judge so harshly after what – 20 seconds of video? She may have been at her wits end and this is an unfortunate ending. Smart? No. However, it certainly doesn not mean that this woman is beating her child senseless behind closed doors. I’m not condoning this woman’s behavior by any means, but let’s all stop acting like we all make the right choices 100% of the time. Maybe you haven’t dragged a child by a leash through a Verizon store, but I’m sure we’ve all done things that we’re happy weren’t caught on a camera phone, because let’s face it, SOMEBODY will find fault in it, no matter how “correctly” you think you’re behaving.
I cannot believe my ears when I hear people saying that the kid probably liked it. Kids like doing a lot of things that are not appropriate, safe or healthy for them. It’s well documented that lots of kids who are molested physically like it, because they don’t know better. They are kids, there is much they dont understand.
I have three children under 4 and they can be a huge PITA but I would NEVER drag my child around like that. How dehumanizing. If the child was throwing a fit the mother should pick him/her up and take them home. It makes me sick that nobody stopped that woman, just watched her walk on by. It’s OUR job to protect our children. Wake up!
I don’t know. My kids could physically do much damage to me when I pick them up and they’re fit to be tied – luuckily that’s not the norm. As horrible as this may seem to some, look at it this way – it could have been so much worse. She could have just beaten the living crap out of the child. From what I can tell, there was no real danger, and nobody was hurt. Given the fact that kids can be challenging, to say the very least, what transpired here was much ado about nothing.
It’s an unfortunate incident and it seems as though it’s in the hands of the proper authorities. My point was that I don’t think any of us have the right to criminalize the woman and accuse her of being a monster afetr watching a miniclip.
A previous comment hit the nail on the head. She was damned, no matter what. People are criminalizing her now, but they would have been pointing the finger at her no matter what she did.
I don’t know, my kids are very strong and more than capable of causing great physical harm to me if I pick them up whne they’re fit to be tied. Luckily, that’s not the norm, but I digress.
This could have been so much worse. Nobody appears to be in great physical danger, the parent and child both appear to be calm, the child is being pulled by the harness and not the neck. This woman could have just beaten the crap out of the kid instead. Really, this could have been so much worse than it is. As horrible as this all seems to some of you, well, I’m not ready to criminalize someone after watching a miniclip and not knowing any of the facts. Apparently this is in the hands of the proper authorities, and nobody was hurt. How do we know that the onlookers didn’t make the right decision in doing nothing based on what transpired before someone whipped out their camera phone and pressed record?
Just playing Devil’s Advocate, I suppose. Everyone is so quick to judge, and isn’t that what’s really so messed up about our society? To hell with getting the facts, let’s just roast someone after watching 15 seconds of video. Wahoo!!
My apologies for the double post. I thought I had lost the 1st.
You go! Everybody thinks they are perfect parents and are so quick to condemn any “bad” behavior. My kids would have LOVED this!
“Go ahead. Drag me. I dare ya.” The kid wasn’t injured and he wasn’t struggling….he was being defiant. It is bleeding heart doogooders who can’t keep their noses out of other people’s business, who interfere with the right of parents to discipline their children in the manner they determine is appropriate. Spare the rod – spoil the child. And you wonder why this country is chock full of unruly little brats?
I am disgusted with what people are writing. I hope none of you are parents and if you are god help your children. I have two children one 13 and one 9. I would first of all have never consider putting them on a leash when they were young, they are kids not dogs and second I would never drag my children across the floor. This woman should be forced to attend parenting classes and have constant home visits by CPS and go to mandatory counseling for her and her children. If you raise your children with respect and constancy you will have respectful kids that grow up to be respectful responsible adults. I assume a good portion of you writing were beaten so bad as children you have no common sense or the patience and love that it takes to raise children. God help you and your kids.
Vanessa said, you just do not drag a fucking child.
If you have children, is that the way you teach them to talk?
People: If she had beaten his little butt right there in the store, she would have gotten arrested, if she had left him lying on the floor and walked away…arrested, broke down in tears- Child welfare! there’s no winning. It’s so sad that today we can not discipline our children publicly. She didn’t hit him and he’s fine. Most of you OBVIOUSLY underestimate the power of a 2 or 3 year old. Children test you and it’s times like that when you can not let them win, because THEN he will pull that same crap in the next store. For those of you- that say: she should have just picked him up- maybe she had a bad back. And some people say she should have just let him scream/cry/tantrum it out~ he could just as easily hurt himself throwing himself on the floor- and crying kids are ANNOYING to the general public. Let’s be real- no one wants to hear that! I don’t and I have a 3 year old!!!!