A 16-year-old girl in Ohio reportedly called 911 on her father for taking away her cell phone, only to get a much-needed reality check from the officer who responded to the non-emergency call.
“My father took property, which is an $800 phone that doesn’t belong to him. He didn’t buy it,” the teen’s heard telling a dispatcher in the 911 audio obtained by WTDN.
Police body cameras recorded the teen telling officers that she wants her phone back from her father, Anthony Robertson, who’s seen standing inches away with his arms folded. The teen asserts that it’s her “property” and that she doesn’t live at the Euclid home.
On 01/12/2019 1336 hours: Officers were dispatched to Plainfield Rd for a Theft report. Upon arrival, the 16 year old…
Posted by South Euclid Police Department on Saturday, January 12, 2019
“I took her phone because she’s a juvenile and I don’t want her to have it. I can’t inspect it,” Robertson explains.
After ensuring that they weren’t dealing with a disciplinary issue, one of the responding officers placed their support behind the dad.
“But guess what? Everything that you own…belongs to your mother and your father,” the officer says to the teen. “Having a phone is not a right.”
Robertson adds, “It’s a privilege.”
The police department told WTDN that it’s required to respond to all calls. Police said they weren’t extremely busy that day, allowing them to provide the teen with a life lesson.
The news station followed up Robertson, who said he’s standing his ground in this instance.
“Most definitely not,” he said, responding to whether he gave the phone back. “I can watch her attitude. When her attitude changes then I’ll give it back to her.”
[Featured image: South Euclid Police Department video screengrab]
