juddling Posted January 24, 2006 Share Posted January 24, 2006 (edited) Arrested mom targets police and fire officials January 24, 2006 STAMFORD, Conn. --A woman who was arrested after her toddler son was accidentally locked in her car on a hot summer day has notified the city she intends to sue police and fire officials, claiming she was defamed. Silverstein, 43, was arrested after she allegedly refused to let rescuers break the window to free him. She was charged with reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor. Her attorney, Matthew Maddox said Silverstein should not have been arrested after the July 25 incident. Maddox said police and fire officials should take the blame for any delay or difficulties extracting the boy. Thomas Cassone, director of legal affairs, said he will investigate. "It's a serious charge when you're charging the people who respond to save your child who you've locked in the car, that they've basically lied about her," he said. Police and fire officials have said Silverstein did not want firefighters to break the window of her 1999 Audi to extract her son, telling them she would drive to her home to get a spare key. What this is about is a panicked mother calling 911, then being blamed for an inadequate and failed 911 response," Maddox said. "I think someone early on, within moments of the 911 call, someone arbitrarily decided this would be a classist story about someone worried about an Audi's glass before her son's health. It's outrageous," Maddox said. Maddox filed notice last week with the Stamford city clerk that Silverstein intends to sue the Police Department and the Turn of River Fire Department. Maddox says statements by members of the departments to the media defamed Silverstein. Turn of River Fire Chief Ray Whitbread said he "certainly would believe our men acted properly." "I have no question about that. But I'd rather not get into detail about making any statement about the incident," he said. Police recordings of the call indicate Silverstein said that if the dispatcher sent police to watch her child, she could go home and get another key. The dispatcher told Silverstein that firefighters would break into the car, but Silverstein said she didn't want her window smashed. "Would you rather your child died?" the dispatcher asked. Firefighters broke the window and the 23-month-old boy was taken to Stamford Hospital, where he was treated and released. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm????????? Edited January 24, 2006 by juddling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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