Dealing with a juvenile home invasion suspect

The arrest of a 15 year old deaf boy shines light on a glaring hole in the juvenile justice system. <br/><br/>Tulsa Police arrested him for an armed robbery on Christmas Eve. That's when they realized

Wednesday, December 28th 2005, 10:01 am

By: News On 6

The arrest of a 15 year old deaf boy shines light on a glaring hole in the juvenile justice system.

Tulsa Police arrested him for an armed robbery on Christmas Eve. That's when they realized police have dealt with this boy repeatedly, but the cases don't stick because the system isn't set up to deal with his disability. Sid's parents say they've tried everything to get him help, have even called police on him themselves, but nothing ever happens.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright looks at the case.

Sid McDade was a beautiful child, the second of three boys. He attends a school for the deaf and can make good grades, when he's not getting into trouble, which lately, has been a lot. Sidâ€™s father Patrick McDade: "As far as cleaning or chopping wood all day, he can work you under the table and he'll do anything for anyone and then he turns." They say Sid tears up property, steals, brings home drugs, assaults other kids.

In October, he attacked his own dad and pulled a knife, but the case was dropped because the juvenile courts didn't have an interpreter. Patrick McDade: "I have no choice but to dismiss the charges and send him home." Lori Fullbright: "What were you thinking?" Patrick: "I was thinking, I called the police, he pulled a knife on me."

They say Sid's probation officer told them the only way he'll get the help he needs is to commit a serious crime, well, now he has. Sid was arrested Christmas Eve for knocking on a neighbor's door, pointing a gun and getting money. He only got $4 and it turned out to be a BB gun, but now, he's in adult jail. Patrick: "I'm not taking away from what he did, but, he doesn't need to be in adult jail." Sidâ€™s mom Lisa: "He needs counseling for mental institution." Patrick: "Maybe a mental institution."

His parents say they've tried every form of discipline plus counseling, even putting Sid in a shelter, but nothing lasted because agencies can't or won't deal with his handicap.

Tulsa Police robbery squad Sgt Dave Walker: "He's escalating and needs to understand the path he's taking is wrong. We need to do whatever it takes as a society to get an interpreter to the courtroom so he can be adjudicated; we need to take care of that."

Tulsa Police say if Sid is running with a gun and can't hear officers telling him to stop and they don't realize he's deaf, it's a recipe for disaster.

Sid's parents recently located a school in Florida that can help him and will accept Medicaid, but, they were told DHS would have to enroll him. They say DHS told them it didn't know how. DHS did not call the News on 6 back.

The parents of Sid McDade, feel the ball has been dropped so many times, that their son may now be facing adult prison, where they fear he won't survive.