this poor kid (story I found)

[fboy9287]

I found this on the internet at Yahoo. Poor poor kid.

A Central Florida teenager is in hot water, after trying to cool off at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure.

The incident happened on March 28 at the Ripsaw Falls ride, WESH NewsChannel 2 reported.

Christian Clark, 17, said he was visiting the park over spring break, and he said he was hot while standing in line.

Clark said he saw a valve, slightly over his head, so he turned it, thinking it would spray him.

But according to an Orlando Police report, the sprinkler system valve triggered a fire alarm, which forced the park to shut down and evacuate the ride.

Police said Clark willfully and maliciously damaged park property, but Clark said it was an innocent mistake, and he claimed the valve said main drain and had no warning.

Clark's father said he's upset because the park didn't call him until four hours after the incident and angry about the way his son was treated at the park and Orange County Juvenile Assessment Center.

He claimed his son was never allowed to call him or given anything to eat.

Clark's trial is scheduled for June 12.

 

[rocketman23]

Well, you have to be pretty dumb to pull a valve overhead thinking it's going to cool you off. Maybe it had no warning because it was safe to assume no one would screw with it, but apparently we have to have signs notifying everyone of everything. Who knows if the kid is even telling the truth anyway, we only have his word to back it up. I mean of course he wouldn't admit to having done it as a prank of some sort.

 

[WebmasterBarry]

Then again, who knows what he was thinking? People use poor judgment sometimes. I recall an FSU student years ago died when she tried to use some of their circus equipment. She was drunk, climbed over the fence with a "no tresspassing" sign on it, climbed up, and jumped onto the net and was killed. Her parents sued the school, saying they were negligent. As tragic as this story is, the bottom line is that 1.) she was drunk and 2.) ignored the warnings.

 

[Sleepy]

If there was one thing I learned from my parents, it was to not touch something that obviously is not supposed to be touched by the general public. Maybe this kid did not have parents who taught him this, or if so, he should be punished and use this as a learning experience. Maybe he thought he was in one of those kids waterlands where you have gazillion valves and hoses to soak your friends WHatever happened to buying a misty fan or a cup of icewater to cool off? I just don't understand how anyone can use his line of thinking. If the valve said MAIN DRAIN, that to me sounds major (like turning the main water valve to my house). Sounds more like he wanted to see what WOULD happen if he actually DID turn the valve. Either way, I think he should be punished. I do not feel sorry for him.

 

[Earl]

I hate to say it, but... poor kid my rear.... can you say showoff?

There's obviously two sides to every story. Let's just say, BIG RED PIPES.... FIRE SPRINKLER SIGN .... MAIN DRAIN SIGN ON VALVE up in air out of reach. I would say more, but I shoudn't.

He was arrested by the Orlando Police Department. I doubt that he was treated any differently from anyone else they arrest. He didn't look any worse for the wear.

 

[fboy9287]

Well if you think, on tower of terror, there are breaker boxes out in the loading station that when you hit it it makes a big noise. Same idea right?

 

[MsDisney]

When I heard this story on the news recently...my opinion (and it's only based on what I heard, (I don't have all the facts, obviously) was that he was definitely a moron, did something stupid, and should have been taken in by security and escorted from the park, etc. I honestly felt that being arrested seemed a bit extreme, but again, I don't know if there was more to the story. He didn't go backstage and do something intentional to screw up the attraction...I'm sure he didn't know the impact it would have on things (ie...the ride being shut down and evacuated) but he still was a complete moron for touching it in the first place. I know if it were me, the embarrassment alone would be MORE than enough of a punishment and you can bet I would never touch anything again that I didn't have a working knowledge of! Of course, I would never have done this in the first place. In my opinion, something of THAT magnitude or influence maybe should be placed out of guests reach, if possibl. (not that I condone his behavior, just that I think Universal should know better)
If being stupid always got you arrested, we'd have the parks to ourselves on most days!!!
Karen

 

[ksdave]

Hopefully, this kids next vacation will NOT include a tour of the local nuclear powerplant.

 

[MIB999999]

Originally posted by ksdave
Hopefully, this kids next vacation will NOT include a tour of the local nuclear powerplant.

GOOD POINT

KABOOMSKI

 

[WebmasterBarry]

Originally posted by ksdave
Hopefully, this kids next vacation will NOT include a tour of the local nuclear powerplant.

So no vacations to New Jersey?