RCMP Visit Over Naked Boy a Misunderstanding

Staff Sgt. Brian Cumming of Squamish RCMP said their officer was responding
to a complaint about a child playing in the street, not about
the four-year-old's nudity. (CBC)

RCMP now say their visit to a Squamish, B.C., family's home last week, prompted by a neighbour's complaint, was about safety and not the "nakedness" of a child playing outside.

Naked 4-year-old son prompts police visit

Ian McIlwaine said he was "shaken and very upset" after an officer visited his home April 22 following a complaint from a neighbour about his four-year-old son, Tyler, playing naked in the yard three days earlier.

The story sparked outrage online, with people questioning the police and the neighbour's actions. In a statement, police confirmed the complaint was "about their son being out on the street with no clothes on a few days earlier."

On Wednesday however, Squamish RCMP met with the McIlwaines, apologized for how the matter was handled and said there was a misunderstanding about the complaint.

'The issue is child safety'

Ian McIlwaine with his two sons, Tyler (left) and Connor.
 McIlwaine's family received a visit from the RCMP after a neighbour complained
four-year-old Tyler was playing naked outside. (Ian McIlwaine/Facebook)

Officers were responding to a concern about children playing in the street, not whether they had clothes on, said Staff Sgt. Brian Cumming.

"There was mention that the children had been naked in the street, but that really wasn't the concern. The concern was with child safety in general," said Cumming.

"The nakedness issue is just not the issue at all. The issue is child safety."

The officer was satisfied McIlwaine's two sons were in no danger and closed the file on the day of his visit, said Cumming.

"For reasons I can't fully explain, it became of interest on social media," he said.

Let me explain: The McIlwains thought the incident was about the boy's nakedness. How they came through a meeting of more than half an hour still thinking that is a very good question, and probably one that you and the investigating officer should get to the bottom of.

Family accepts police apology

Following the one-hour meeting with RCMP, McIlwaine said he and his wife accept the police apology.

"We feel completely resolved," he told CBC News.

However, as for the explanation that the complaint was originally about "child safety," McIlwaine said he didn't see his boys playing in the street.

It's not clear why the neighbour, who has not been identified, waited three days to complain to police if the concern was indeed about safety.

McIlwaine said he wishes the neighbour had just spoken to him directly, rather than involving police.

The RCMP don't argue with that notion.

"I can't control that. Would it be a better way to do things? Probably, but people are free to do what they choose to do," said Cumming.

Father 'Shaken and Upset' after Naked 4-year-old Son Prompts Police Visit

4-year-old Tyler took his clothes off after a water fight, leading a neighbour to complain to police

Ian McIlwaine, with sons, Tyler, 4, left, and Connor, 6, have had to deal with a
police visit to their home in Squamish, B.C.,
after neighbours complained Tyler was playing outside naked.

By The Early Edition, CBC News

Ian McIlwaine of Squamish, British Columbia, said his family is "shaken and very upset" after RCMP, responding to a complaint by neighbours, visited the family's home because his four-year-old son was playing in the yard naked.

On Sunday, McIlwaine took advantage of the warm weather to wax his car outside his home, with his two sons, Tyler, and Conner, 6, playing nearby.

"First hot day of spring, and they're itching to get outside after a long Canadian winter and first thing they want to do is have a water fight," he told The Early Edition's Rick Cluff.

Tyler got his pants wet and McIlwaine told him to put on some shorts. Instead, the boy emerged from the house naked.

"It was all what seemed to be harmless innocence. I felt like at four years old, he's still pure, he's still innocent," said McIlwaine.

Squamish Harbour - about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler

Mcllwaine said he didn't hear anything from neighbours at the time. A few days later, he was in Kelowna, B.C., on business and his wife, Margita, called him in tears.

The police were at the house for more than half an hour, telling her that there could be "further action" if the child is found outdoors naked again.

Mcllwaine returned early from his trip and went to the detachment the next day. He was told police had to respond to the call because it involved a child.

"The disturbing part of it was ... I had [previously had] a break-in in the middle of the day, with my wife and children inside the house eating lunch, and the RCMP had never even bothered to come — they said that they didn't have resources," he said.

McIlwaine said his older son is now afraid of the police — fearing he and his brother could be taken away from their parents.

Squamish, British Columbia

Police apologize for kids' fears

The Squamish RCMP declined an interview, but provided a written statement from Staff Sgt. Brian Cumming.

"I have spoken to Mrs. and Mr. McIlwaine, explained that we responded to a complaint from another citizen about their son being out on the street with no clothes on a few days earlier," it reads.

"They did not feel this was handled well by the officers responding despite my explanations, and I offered an apology for the fact that they were not happy and felt their son was now afraid of the police."

I have known several RCMP officers over the years and have nothing but respect for them. However, assuming we have 'all the facts', which is a big assumption, they might have over-reacted to this incident. 

A small child playing naked outside is not a rare thing in any country on a warm day. Had he been out there naked on a cold day, well, that might be worth investigating. 

The article doesn't tell us whether the neighbour feared neglect or abuse. Fear of abuse would simply be absurd and should have been summarily dismissed immediately. Pedophiles generally don't work in plain view, and their victims don't generally run around playing.

I think both the neighbour and the RCMP could have shown better judgment in the case, and I'm glad to see the apology even if Sgt. Cumming put all the responsibility for the upsets on the family.