MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - A Memphis boy is shaking his head and preparing for a court date, after he was arrested for skateboarding without a helmet.
For 12-year-old William Faulhaber, the trouble all started two weeks ago when his dad dropped him off at the new skate park in Midtown. William says he quickly realized he had forgotten his helmet.
He says he never heard a Memphis police officer warn everyone to either put on their helmets or leave the park.
"I didn't hear that," Faulhaber tells abc24.com. "I didn't see that coming. If I had seen it coming, I would have called my dad and told him to bring my helmet."
Faulhaber says the next thing he knew, the officer was telling him to put his hands behind his back and putting handcuffs on him.
According to cell phone video taken at the scene, the officer can be heard saying, "I will be arresting every time I come by. I will be arresting somebody, whoever is not wearing a helmet."
Faulhaber says the officer drove him to his dad's house.
Hans Faulhaber, William's father, says he doesn't understand the fuss at the skatepark, when he's been robbed at gunpoint twice and his home has been burglarized.
"I think those are more pressing issues then arresting a 12-year-old for not wearing a helmet," says Faulhaber. "But that's just my opinion."
Currently, Memphis doesn't have a law requiring helmets at the park. An MPD spokesperson declined to comment on the officer's actions, but did tell abc24.com Faulhaber was arrested for criminal trespassing. He was issued a summons to appear in juvenile court.
On Tuesday, December 6, 2011, the Memphis City Council will consider an ordinance that would allow officers to ticket those without a helmet. That ticket would come with a $50 fine.
