Cops called on 13-year-olds for selling cupcakes
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northside7
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CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. - A politician in a New York suburb called police on two 13-year-old boys for selling cupcakes and other baked goods without a permit, according to a report Monday.
The Journal News in Westchester County said the boys, Andrew DeMarchis and Kevin Graff, had a brisk business selling cupcakes, cookies, brownies and Rice Krispie treats for $1 each in a Chappaqua park.
However, New Castle Councilman Michael Wolfensohn called the police after discovering the sale was not for charity, the newspaper said.
Kevin's mother, Laura Graff, said the teens were "good kids" who were scared by the police call.
"I am shocked and sad for the boys. It was such a great idea, and they worked hard at it," Laura Graff, Kevin's mother, told The Journal News. "But then some Town Board member decided to get on his high horse and wreck their dreams."
DeMarchis, Graff and two other friends, Zachary Bass and Daniel Katz, had hoped they would make enough money to open a restaurant, the paper said, adding that they made $120 on their first day.
However the police arrived on their second day in Gedney Park, on Oct. 9, the paper said.
'Crying all the way home' Suzanne DeMarchis, Andrew's mother, was called to the park and said the officer was "extremely pleasant."
"He said he was sorry to have to do this, but that he was following up on a report filed over the phone by a Town Board member," she told The Journal News. "Kevin was so upset, he was crying all the whole way home. He was worried if he was going to get arrested or have a criminal record."
Wolfensohn told the paper he had asked the boys if the sale was to raise money for a charity, before calling the police.
"All vendors selling on town property have to have a license, whether it's boys selling baked goods or a hot dog vendor," Wolfensohn said.
He said "in hindsight" he perhaps should have told the boys they needed a license rather than calling the cops. "The police are trained to deal with these sorts of issues," he told The Journal News.
A permit to sell things in the park costs $150 to $350 for two hours and a $1 million insurance certificate is also required, the paper said.
New Castle Recreation and Parks Superintendent Robert Snyder told The Journal News that they needed to know what went on in the park.
"What if there was work going on that was dangerous?" he told the paper. "But I do understand why parents would think they can do this."
Andrew DeMarchis told The Journal News of his disappointment.
"We were being entrepreneurs," he said, "but now I feel a little defeated."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40194328/ns/us_news-life/
I understand they need a permit but was it neccessary to call the cops?
The Journal News in Westchester County said the boys, Andrew DeMarchis and Kevin Graff, had a brisk business selling cupcakes, cookies, brownies and Rice Krispie treats for $1 each in a Chappaqua park.
However, New Castle Councilman Michael Wolfensohn called the police after discovering the sale was not for charity, the newspaper said.
Kevin's mother, Laura Graff, said the teens were "good kids" who were scared by the police call.
"I am shocked and sad for the boys. It was such a great idea, and they worked hard at it," Laura Graff, Kevin's mother, told The Journal News. "But then some Town Board member decided to get on his high horse and wreck their dreams."
DeMarchis, Graff and two other friends, Zachary Bass and Daniel Katz, had hoped they would make enough money to open a restaurant, the paper said, adding that they made $120 on their first day.
However the police arrived on their second day in Gedney Park, on Oct. 9, the paper said.
'Crying all the way home' Suzanne DeMarchis, Andrew's mother, was called to the park and said the officer was "extremely pleasant."
"He said he was sorry to have to do this, but that he was following up on a report filed over the phone by a Town Board member," she told The Journal News. "Kevin was so upset, he was crying all the whole way home. He was worried if he was going to get arrested or have a criminal record."
Wolfensohn told the paper he had asked the boys if the sale was to raise money for a charity, before calling the police.
"All vendors selling on town property have to have a license, whether it's boys selling baked goods or a hot dog vendor," Wolfensohn said.
He said "in hindsight" he perhaps should have told the boys they needed a license rather than calling the cops. "The police are trained to deal with these sorts of issues," he told The Journal News.
A permit to sell things in the park costs $150 to $350 for two hours and a $1 million insurance certificate is also required, the paper said.
New Castle Recreation and Parks Superintendent Robert Snyder told The Journal News that they needed to know what went on in the park.
"What if there was work going on that was dangerous?" he told the paper. "But I do understand why parents would think they can do this."
Andrew DeMarchis told The Journal News of his disappointment.
"We were being entrepreneurs," he said, "but now I feel a little defeated."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40194328/ns/us_news-life/
I understand they need a permit but was it neccessary to call the cops?
Comments
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Mark of the beast, cant buy or sell without it. aka bar code/permit.... ? 's real son. Just wait til they put all that info on a chip.... Cops will show up without even having to be called.
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What is the world coming to? These kids were selling products ILLEGALLY in this citizens neighborhood, so he did the right thing and alerted the authorities, and ya'll are treating him like the bad guy.
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shootemwon wrote: »What is the world coming to? These kids were selling products ILLEGALLY in this citizens neighborhood, so he did the right thing and alerted the authorities, and ya'll are treating him like the bad guy.
lol you're joking right? -
The big issue was the kids were selling in a city park. This put the city as a possible liable entity. "a $1 million insurance certificate is also required" this is the biggest issue with the event. It would be trivial to pass a Young Entrepreneur bill that waived the hourly fee but there is no escaping liability. Either the kids need to cover it or the city has to pay to increase their coverage.
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Thank you government for protecting me from these cupcakes.
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bornnraisedoffCMR wrote: »Thank you government for protecting me from these cupcakes.
So you would be ok with someone opening a bakery on your front lawn without your permission? It wasn't government, it was a citizen defending his property. -
The big issue was the kids were selling in a city park. This put the city as a possible liable entity. "a $1 million insurance certificate is also required" this is the biggest issue with the event. It would be trivial to pass a Young Entrepreneur bill that waived the hourly fee but there is no escaping liability. Either the kids need to cover it or the city has to pay to increase their coverage.
He could have told them that instead of calling the cops.. -
shootemwon wrote: »So you would be ok with someone opening a bakery on your front lawn without your permission? It wasn't government, it was a citizen defending his property.
He doesn't own the park lol -
parallelrhymes wrote: »damn that's kinda ? up...I don't see the point in calling the cops on them, if officers stopped and told the kids they couldn't sell anymore that's one thing but to go out of your way to shut down their "business" is lame in itself
can't stop drug dealers but cracking down on baked good sales...goat
sad but true lmao... why am i laughing -
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shootemwon wrote: »So you would be ok with someone opening a bakery on your front lawn without your permission? It wasn't government, it was a citizen defending his property.
Yep, call 911 on two young boys selling cupcakes!!!!!!!!
It's a national emergency!!!!!!!!!! -
Yet another reason why New Babylon Err York is Wack...
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Unauthorized cupcakes = terrorist activities
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? complating that he called the cops on them. Lil ? should have payed homage like everyone else
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The big issue was the kids were selling in a city park. This put the city as a possible liable entity. "a $1 million insurance certificate is also required" this is the biggest issue with the event. It would be trivial to pass a Young Entrepreneur bill that waived the hourly fee but there is no escaping liability. Either the kids need to cover it or the city has to pay to increase their coverage.
Do they not need the same insurance if it is for charity? -
thirsty ass nikkas
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Here's the councilman that shut them down:
the two kids:
