Vancouver Police Terrorize 3 year old?

Man arrested and released after taking naked son to bike ride in Vancouver
The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER — Naked cyclists converged on Vancouver's main police station Saturday after a man was arrested with his three-year-old son during a nude ride earlier in the day.

Naked Bike Ride spokesman Conrad Schmidt said six squad cars and a paddy wagon showed up as the group of about 75 naked cyclists arrived along the city's English Bay.

He said the boy was in tears as police took him and his father away.

Schmidt said the arrest prompted the group to cycle through downtown Vancouver to the police station.

Vancouver Police Const. Jana McGuinness said several people had called police, concerned about the child's well-being. Police arrived and reached an agreement with the man that both he and his child would wear underwear during the ride.

As he left to join the group on the ride, the man [a.k.a. his father!?] stripped his and his son's clothes off. The father was then arrested at the scene of the bike ride under public nudity laws.

However, McGuinness said it appeared the man regretted his actions.

"When they were leaving (the scene) it was under the understanding that perhaps he hadn't shown the best judgement, there were a number of people that took offence to the child being naked in the group and subjected to people's scrutiny," she said. "It sounds like it's been a good lesson all around."

Not all the cyclists who made the trip through Vancouver's tourist-crowded downtown core supported the protest.

One cyclist who declined to give her name said the man took off the boy's pants [neutral language, eh]

She said most of the cyclists did not agree with the situation and would not be protesting. [really? then why did they go to the copshop to support him? that doesn't make sense]

"The leaders of this event do not support what the guy did," she said.

"I think that's wrong. The kid's a minor." [kid=minor... makes sense... and nudity is for adults only? pervert!]

The ride went down the city's crowded Robson Street, stopping [sure?] both vehicle and pedestrian traffic and drawing hoots and horns.

What the heck is going on here? Obviously we're not getting the whole story from the toady media. I suppose we shouldn't rush to judgement but it looks like the morality police are running roughshod over this family. On one ride I've done (not a large organised one) a cop in a paddywagon took offence and tried to get me in trouble. He called in more cops to support him... which lead to it becoming apparent to the other police that he was the problem not me and eventually they just left and most of the other officers thought it was funny/a waste of their time. This seems like a similar situation except that the police who came to support didn't have the common sense to undermine the moralist... maybe he had a higher rank?

I don't understand the anti-nudity stance being applied to children more than adults. That's the opposite of logical. Children love being naked and obcenity is a lot more likely from adults. Kids shouldn't be encumbered by such stupid anti-nudity laws. Breastfeeding and toplessness is actually a right, though full nudity can be considered "lewd" upon the subjective judgement of the officer. This ride isn't an adult or sexual event - it's nude. This story has a lot of major problems which makes me rush to judge it. For instance supposedly a cyclist said "the man took off the boy's pants" is very perverse... yes, 3 year olds get dressed by their parents... I wasn't at this ride but I have been on many rides and would be extremely surprised if the character of this was so different from the many I have been to.

In a way I hope they charge the dad so that he can embarass the VPD in court. Though more likely it will be another illegal/harrassment arrest without charge (which does mean less hassle in the long term so many don't complain and it is common)

I'm quite interested in this because now that I have a son I've considered taking him on the WNBR but haven't actually done it yet for various reasons (Gimme a break it was cold this June, he is only 7 months old -- he has gone to 2 CMs and a Kidical Mass already)

does anyone have more info about this?