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Updated: 11:41 AM Nov 4, 2009
Parents arrested after chaining up their developmentally disabled son by his ankles
The parents of a 21-year-old developmentally disabled Eau Claire man were arrested for chaining him inside a home. Posted: 12:19 PM Nov 3, 2009Reporter: Amelia Cerling Email Address: Amelia.Cerling@weau.com |
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Posted by: Wendy
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 4, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Thank You Mike for your comments. I couldn't agree with you more. I too was dumbfounded by the prosecutors statements. To Dale, are you speaking for the ADA? Because what you "interpreted" is not what was said. And no, I'm not nearsighted. Cultural or not, anyone who resides in this country who treats a disabled person in this way deserves to be punished. That's way we have laws in place as a form of protection from those who can't defend themselves. As a surviving victim of abuse, my heart goes out to this man
Posted by: Anonymous
on Nov 4, 2009 at 10:38 AM
There are horrifying stories in the paper every day about bad things that people do. I just don't understand why race always becomes an issue the few times that the story is about a minority person/family. I don't think all white people were condemned for the recent story about a man going to prison for sexually assaulting a 17-month old baby. I can't believe that in this day in age people are still so ignorant and stupid.
Posted by: jnco
Location: wausau
on Nov 4, 2009 at 10:32 AM
i totally agree with you "Dad Fourkids".
Posted by: Upset
Location: La Crosse
on Nov 4, 2009 at 10:18 AM
This makes me beyond angry. I take care of adults with developmental disabilities. Chaining their son up to a pole is disturbing. As for the friend who said the parents were "only doing the best for their son....protecting him from hurting himself" that's the lamest excuse I have ever heard! If the parents didn't know how to take care of him, there is protective placement and people trained and people who have the compassion to take care of people with DD. Yes clients may have outbursts, but do we tie them up?? Absolutely not! It's parents like these that make me realize why we need homes to take care of people with DD, because the parents simply just don't want to!
Posted by: Dick
Location: E.C.
on Nov 4, 2009 at 10:17 AM
For Anon, e.c., Our Hmong residents are largely from Laos, which is in Asia. Or northern Vietnam, Thailand, or Burma. All in Asia. And why we would be sending criminals to Detroit?!? That’s about as smart as saying send them all to Australia like England used to do. But not anymore…
Posted by: Dad Fourkids
Location: US
on Nov 4, 2009 at 09:46 AM
I am not trying to excuse the actions of these parents, but I do find it highly ironic that now that this man is in State's care chances are great he will have the shackles on his legs traded for a chemical straightjacket to make him easier to manage.
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 4, 2009 at 09:46 AM
I don't care who's who, this is crap! Hmong, Asian, White, Black, anybody who acts like this get them out of our community! Send em all to Detroit or something!
Posted by: heartbroke
Location: eau clarie
on Nov 4, 2009 at 09:30 AM
Is Pete Roller insane, kind and loving people do not beat one another with boxings gloves and sticks! Who are these other individuals? I hope they are also held responsible! I hope that this young gentleman never has to be subjected to this again!
Posted by: Laura
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 4, 2009 at 09:23 AM
I think some things need to be said, I read all the comments. 1. white folks do this kind of stuff too, why is it we only have fits after a minority family does it? 2. There r services but many people working at the services r bigots. I have heard many awful bigoted comments about hmongs while getting services myself. We have a deep underlying bigotry here that outsiders can sense. I did when I moved here n I am white. 3.The traditional hmong culture looks down on families that ask for mental health care as a defect in the family or clan unit according to several books I have read about hmong culture. The hmong will not just "come in" to access services, it is a hard sell to them. I am not blaming anyone but the couple for this behaviour, but how many of you would have commented if they were white? What about the white couple that kept kids in dog kennels? Or the white guy last year that made his kids clean up pets he slaughtered in front of them? Where were services then?
Posted by: anonymous
Location: eau claire
on Nov 4, 2009 at 09:10 AM
I don't care what culture you are, I think its abuse, especially to someone who has a mental disability.
Posted by: resident
Location: eau claire
on Nov 4, 2009 at 08:46 AM
OOOPS! I apologize for the phrasing. I didnt mean to reflect any kind of approval for such treatment of disabled individuals. What I meant was, there just isnt much of any kind of placement for emotionally disturbed individuals other than Foster Care or half-way homes. In this case, it seems that their culture believes in handling their sons problem by locking him away, hidden from the public. How VERY sad that abusing him for something beyond his control takes place. I hope this young man gets the help he needs outside of his family.
Posted by: Dale
Location: E.C.
on Nov 4, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Mike, you must not know Wade because he is an excellent ADA. And his (partial) comment is being misinterpreted by your nearsightedness. When I read it I see him saying that the parents indicated they were trying to help their child, but that the chains would not do that (in any fashion). And nobody condoned this person being struck. Come to think of it, maybe you have met Wade on the wrong side of the court room.
Posted by: Victim
Location: meno
on Nov 4, 2009 at 08:15 AM
As a former victim of 7 years of abuse, including abandonment, stavation, beatings, isolation, locked in basements, and treated worse than an animal, these people will pay..maybe not in this life..but in another
Posted by: Gary
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 4, 2009 at 07:51 AM
cultural differences? So am I to assume this is acceptable behavior in SE Asia? The prosecutors comments lead me to believe that perhaps he is making excuses as to why he won't prosecute wholeheartedly in this case. Reminds me of when a shaman cured the man who killed his family a few years back.
Posted by: Anonymous
on Nov 4, 2009 at 07:37 AM
@Resident read the whole article....."Wynne Cook is a social worker in Chippewa County for children and youth with special health care needs. She says there are MANY LOCAL organizations that will help parents of disabled children, “You worry if people have language barriers of if they feel isolated for other reasons they may not know where to turn; and so we're always working on ways to connect with families at risk.”"
Posted by: Bill
on Nov 4, 2009 at 07:34 AM
They can take their cultural differences and board a flight back to southeast Asia. We don't let the descendants of Vikings (Norwegians) continue to commit the atrocities that their culture once embraced. Time to fit in to the culture you live in.
Posted by: Moma of 4
Location: Wisconsin
on Nov 3, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Prosecutor Wade Newell says, “I understand there may be cultural differences but as the court can see nothing was done with those chains to make it a more comfortable situation for the victim.” Are you joking?? My son has disabilities. So your saying if I padded some chains it would be ok for me to chain my son up?? He is a human being and did not deserve to be treated this way. I would NEVER treat my son any differently than any other child on the street because he is a little different. "culture differences"?? These people are not normal. You don't chain up your children like that. A HUGE thank you to the store worker who helped out this poor soul. Bless you.
Posted by: To Jenel
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 11:04 PM
I just wanted to say your comment touched my heart. My son has had special needs his entire life and it has been a challenge for sure. You're absolutely correct that you accept that child as is and love them unconditionally. It is not their fault that they're here and we are responsible for them.
Posted by: bill
Location: resident
on Nov 3, 2009 at 11:02 PM
time to treat these people equally,they chose to live here in the US.
Posted by: To Warren
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 11:01 PM
You've obviously never raised or lived with a child with special needs. Even if you don't believe the child needs SSI as a minor they do need the SSI as an adult to try and live on their own.
Posted by: larry
Location: eau claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 10:56 PM
they want to live in us and get all the free benifits. this is the us,they are living by our rules now,they need to learn our laws and be diseplined the same as anyone else and speak english our go back where they came from.
Posted by: jnco
Location: wausau
on Nov 3, 2009 at 10:54 PM
i guess there seems to be a lot of differences between two worlds.. Oh yeah, only your great-grandparents would understand when they first came to America. I understand how horribly you've lost your own culture and could not teach it to your children only through books.. that's kind of sad..
Posted by: Robin
Location: EC
on Nov 3, 2009 at 09:52 PM
These people better go to jail I get sick of the Hmongs getting away with things like this, because of the different cultures...bull. My German family had differnt cultures when they came here, and where so proud to become Americans they learned the language and worked to be true Americans and abide by the laws. I have a disabled (down syndrome) grandson that would never be treated this way these people need to be prosecuted and the disabled person put in a better home. This makes me sick
Posted by: Me
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 09:51 PM
This has nothing to do with race. As it seems some of you are blaming it on the Hmong community. It is a personal choice and I'm sure the Hmong community does not stand behind it. And no Hnong people do not get away with everything. It's sad to see that someone was put in this situation no matter what race they are.
Posted by: Randy
Location: Elk Mound
on Nov 3, 2009 at 09:44 PM
Don, Thankyou for this info. It isn't just the hmong who abuse the system, though, plenty of natives do too. I see middle aged people supposedly caring for a demented parent, but in reality they are just living off said parents pension, and SS checks, while the parent suffers. Most disabled people are far better off in qualified institutions then in the hands of untrained relatives. The trouble is that many of these people worked during the unionized era of good wages and hefty pensions and have monthly resouces much greater then an uneducated family member could muster up themselves, so the temptation to say you are okay to care for them is great. 24 hours a day with a challanging person is hard, thats why proffesionals do it no more then 12. SSI is another travesty. These mentaly disabled people never paid into SS, why have that? Just let Medicaid do its job and have them properly cared for. // Oh, and Mr Hmong, after 20 years here and no English? Thats a scam, pure and simple.
Posted by: Mike
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Prosecutor Wade Newell says, “I understand there may be cultural differences but as the court can see nothing was done with those chains to make it a more comfortable situation for the victim.” WHAT?!?!?!?! Are you really saying that if the chains were padded that there would be nothing wrong with this? If he were more comfortable when he was beat with a stick this would be OK? What in the &#&@ kind of comment from a prosecutor is this?
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: Strum
on Nov 3, 2009 at 09:00 PM
This is what happens when we cut, cut, and cut budgets in this area of problems.The ones that realy need help cant get it. You just dont chain someone up. but there needs to be more help out there for people with disabilities,mental, and emotional problems.Family and freinds just cant do it all.
Posted by: Anna
Location: Colfax
on Nov 3, 2009 at 08:38 PM
Cultural differences? No it is abuse. Plain and simple. It is against the law no matter what excuses people may use.
Posted by: Don
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 07:58 PM
I know this young man. He's a kind and gentle soul. His family refused any outside help including employement for Cheng. They did however gladly accept the SSI payments he received and understood that any gainful employment that could be arranged for Cheng would reduce their payments. The father sells produce at the Farmer's Market. He was featured in a story a short time ago that told the story of a land owner donating land for his use. A different son is well educated and heavily involved in coordinating services available to Hmong families. The parents have been in the US for over 20 years and don't speak any English. The father isn't declared as the husband so the family qualifies for higher benefit payments. They seem to use the "different culture" excuse when it's to their benefit. Perhaps chaining their kid up in the basement won't be so easily explained.
Posted by: Rick
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Being Hmong they wont get in to much trouble...They never do..
Posted by: Anonymous
on Nov 3, 2009 at 06:35 PM
This is absolutely not okay! Please realize though that many cultures are ashamed of people with disabilities and feel the need to "hide" them. Education about all of the resources available for them will hopefully help others too. Aging and Disability Resource Centers and Independent Living Centers are two options.
Posted by: shocked
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 06:23 PM
Resident: there are many places and resources for families for 'these individuals' in and around Eau Claire. Even if these families are left to care for 'these individuals' on their own, this is NO way to deal with the situation!!
Posted by: Caretaker
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 05:35 PM
Resident: There are many places for these individuals to go if their families are unable/unwilling to take care of them. Yes, institutions are not around anymore, but there are group homes, family living places that will take them and help them to thrive. I don't know where you are getting your information, but please know what you're talking about before you make yourself sound stupid! All people deserve to be treated humainly, it doesn't matter what disability they have. This is absolutely sick and tragic and if resident thinks that this is ok, I worry about anyone that is in their care.
Posted by: Jenel
Location: BRF
on Nov 3, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Resident~Are you condoning this behavior? You should be ashamed of yourself! Saying that there should be places to put diabled people so the parents can get relief from caring for them? Are you kidding me? What, so people can take them there and forget about them? When you decide to have a baby you take them for who they are and whatever abnormalities they may have and you are responsible for them no matter what! that means doing whatever it takes to take care of them properly and to make sure they are safe and loved! Not chaining them to a pole in the basement or institutionalizing them for the rest of their lives! I am the mother of a diabled child and I would NEVER consider putting her in an institution so someone else can deal with her because I don't want to! It's hard but that's what you do when you're a parent! Thank you to the store and Police for doing what is right for this individual! Open your eyes people I'm sure this happens more than you think!
Posted by: Warren
on Nov 3, 2009 at 05:05 PM
Don't you people understand? Somw bleeding heart pays them government funds to care for him. He's a cash cow, not a human being in thier eyes. WHY do we PAY family members to care for family members? It is your responsibility to do so. It is vile to take public cash to do so.
Posted by: Jane
Location: Neillsville
on Nov 3, 2009 at 04:56 PM
That is still NO EXCUSE to do this to a human being!
Posted by: to resident
Location: eau claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 03:56 PM
It sounds like you are trying to say that the parents who did this to their son had no choice. Parents and other caregivers always have a choice. There is always help all parents or caregivers need to do is ask for help. Children are not asked to be brought into the world. It is said that there are some parents who seem to just not care about their children and it makes it hard for those of us who do care. For those store employees who noticed this young man.....thank you for caring.
Posted by: resident
Location: eau claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 03:15 PM
I NEVER would have thought something such as this would happen in Eau Claire. BUT.. with no where to place these individuals to get reatment indefinitely, more and more parents/family members are having to deal with individuals that cant be left alone due to disabilities, whether it be emotional or physical. These families are left to care for individuals on their own, with no relief in sight, or, available for them.
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: Osseo
on Nov 3, 2009 at 02:28 PM
He is a human not a pet.Lock them up for a very long time.They did it to him.A big thanks goes to the store and police dept. Great job
Posted by: ang
Location: cf
on Nov 3, 2009 at 01:19 PM
OMG! what is wrong with people ... this is another human being! I sure hope he gets the help he needs!!! I hope that his parents (of all people to do this to their own child) get maximum penalty ... these people are sick. cruel and sick!
Posted by: Tina
Location: Eau Claire
on Nov 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM
HORRIBLE!!!!
Posted by: Deb
Location: Whitehall
on Nov 3, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Oh my LORD, this is so sad. |
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I am proud to say that I have met this young man. He is not a danger to anyone. He is a very kind person. As far as the whole situation goes, it is very sad. My heart goes out to Cheng. I am just glad that he is in good care. It was an honor to meet and talk with him. The other person that said that they have also had the honor of working with him, I agree very much with you.
i totally agree with the RACIEST comments too.When some other minorities commit a crime, everyone blows up and tells them to go back to their country, but when a WHITE person commits a crime, oh its all ok because this is their county and they can get away with whatever they do..blah blah blah. Learn English or go back..they live in the USA so they better fit in..the USA doesn't have a set language or one specific belief/culture. i wonder how the USA would be if there was no other nationalities mixed in just like a world full of males? hum.. we all see how this world has come to. what is consider an American person? blond hair? blue eyes? English speaking only? only born in the USA not mixed with other nationality, a full breed?
Why is that when someone from the Hmong community do something wrong, the immediate reaction from the "white" community is to tell the Hmong people to go back to their country? This is a juvenile response to a serious problem. Maybe it makes people feel good or validates their skewed opinion that the Hmong are not worthy enough to be citizens of the United States of America. There have been many crimes committed by Americans but never seem to generate this much outrage and hatred. If everyone was sent back to their own country whenever they committ a crime, the racial demographics of America would be very different from what it is today. To address those that say the Hmong are taking advantage of the system,, I challenge you to do some research. You may be surprised and perhaps even embarrassed to learn that the number of people on welfare and other assistance are white and that many of them do not necessarily need to be on any assistance, yet they are.
Love the ignorant people that make comments like "learn to speak English or go back to where you came from". Too bad the U.S. doesn't have an official language. Yes our parents did choose to come here thinking this place would be safer and better for their kids. Most people with a head and a heart could make that easy decision. It is stupid that people paint a picture of how a whole group of people are just from a few negative stories in the news. That also goes out to the older Hmong generation as well. My parents were treated terribly when they first arrived here and have been uneasy to trust white people. But they have slowly opened up their opinions and have learned to trust them in recent years. Yeah that's it for my rant. BTW, I don't agree with how the parents treated their son in this case.
Many of the Hmong are good people who pull thier own wieght, but I personaly know a young Hmong woman who has told me that many of her people consider this country a gravy train.They feel entitled to not work as many of the Hmong assisted the Americans during ther war. She says she feels ashamed of this. I am not sure if this is the case here, but it sounds suspect to me. 20 years in this country and yet speaks no English? She told me that this is on purpose, so they are not forced into looking for work and can collect handouts. The DD son might have been an embarassment to them, but he still was a good source of revenue. I find that troubling on so many levels. And no, my comments are not racist, just observations on the facts as I see them. Why is it a minority can break the law and hide behind the word racist? Heres one, if the son who was chained is a minority, would this act be considered a hate crime? As a white man, if I did it to him, you know thats what it would be called
Everyone says theres help out there for people that are disabled.But try and get it unless your poor.Even if you make about 2500.00 for two thats with one getting social sec. this is before the tax man gets his share.There is very little help out there.If your disabled your cost of living is much higher. But they dont count that when trying to get help.These people are under alot of stress trying to just make it from day to day.This is not right to do but help is realy limited for parents of a older child.do to the fact they use the parents wages against them for the help he needs even when hes over 18 years old.If there disabled there parents income or spouses income should not be a factor for help.
To Laura: I think there were plenty of comments about the "white" couple who kept their kids in dog kennels, and there were plenty of comments about the "white" guy who made his kids clean up the pets he slaughtered. Who cares what "kind" of people they are - it's wrong and disgusting!!! We have "fits" when any race does this kind of thing, not just a minority - it has nothing to do with race!! The fact is innocent people are getting abused and the abusers need to pay for their actions. If the hmong culture doesn't accept seeking mental health care, then maybe they shouldn't be living in "our" culture. One more thing Laura, the people working at the places where you receive services should not be called bigots! They are there to "help" you, right?
I deeply feel for this man, and that yes, this should have never happened. For those "racist" comments out there, look at yourself before you comment about sending the "hmongs" back or to a different country. Who exactly was in America before you came here? Native Americans. Maybe you need to really find out what your "roots" are before you comment on anything. Yeah, they chained their child to a pole, and you have an opinion about it, but what about all the other cases out there? The child rapist, Jeffrey Dahmer, and other cases. Very hypocritical. Look at other facts before you even say anything. Oh...I guess they also broke the law, should they be sent back to their country?
Some of the comments are interesting, very disturbing and racially minded. I am HMONG. I have a sister with a DISABILITY. What this family did to their son is inhuman. Yet, there are people out there who made racist comments. The only question I have for those would did make the racist comments: does it make you a better person or even human for stating those racial comments? I suggest looking back to the Northern center in the Chippewa Falls for some answers plus all the killings of native and black americans if you are human or not. I currently have a caucasion uncle and he is like my second father. He's taking care of a gentleman who had developmental problems but was beaten up by his own people (white majority) because he was different (developmentally) not because of his color. NOW, stop being hypocritical people! Focus on the situation, not color, status, and culture! Every family is different and are dysfunctional; no family is perfect. Learn from this. Teach others to be better!
I havn't noticed that any comment here is exactly racist, most of them were assumptions based on incomplete information. If an individual wants to be German, Korean, African they should have stayed where they were. This is America, if you want to live here you have to follow the rules established in this American culture. This practice of supporting all cultures and languages is why these people have been here 20 years and do not speak the language. That is why they do not understand the system. Those that try to fit in and be good citizens are overshadowed by those that fail to conform to societys norms. These people are criminals no matter what thier race or culture.
I think the problem is that the parents may not be informed with what they are able to do. As Hmongs, the types of services (available to the DD population) needed are not explained well to them. At the same time, it's hard to explain the benefits of these type of services, not just to the Hmong, but to people in general. We all need to consider that maybe the parents were trying their best and were at their wits end. I'm sure that if they had gotten the suggestion or the help from somebody (if anybody was aware of the situation) then it may not have come to these shackles, but that didn't happen. I hope that this does bring awareness to parents and caretakers that there are services available to help them.
It’s taken out of context Wendy, and I don’t speak for him but have been by him when he prosecuted a lot of people that deserved to be. I don’t know how anyone could simply read one line and think he is siding with the parents… Why are they holding them, read a little more.
This is a tragic situation that didn't need to happen, however, most of the comments on here are racist and/or judgemental. They are based off of assumptions, with very little fact. Simply put, a crime was committed, no matter how we look at it, and the appropriate actions need to be taken. Those that have derogatory statements to say, please save them; they're not doing anyone any good. It is people such as yourselves, that may be contributing to people making poor decisions, leading to situations as this. When people feel that they have nowhere to turn, they begin to make their one choices and sometimes those choices have negative consequences. Hopefully, this young man gets the help that he needs, and sad, but true, in the US, that help will most likely be in the form of medications, a confined room, and a straight jacket.. which ironically, is basically the same thing. THAT is sad.
Wow! I have had the honor of working with this young man and he was NOT a danger to himself or others. I am sickened at how he has been treated. He is gentle, kind, hardworking, and wants to please people. He has never given any indication of hurting others or himself. My stomach hurts at how he has been treated. I hope there is a place for him that will treat him with respect and honor what talents he is able to share.
Race, financial status or any other condition is not an excuse for this happening. Events like this occur all too often in schools and residential facilities and many times nothing is done about it. Neither family members or staff should be restraining people with developmental disabilities. They need to know that there are alternatives to physical abuse, and that there is help available to learn these procedures. Perhaps in the family's culture having a member with a disability is considered an embarrassment. Years ago, even in the U.S. people with disabilities were hidden away in institutions. MOST, but not all of those facilities are gone now, but they do exist.