Boy Arrested for Using Sharpie on Desk

Sharpie markers are known for their ability to stain a page with the dark print of the ink contained in the popular pen. An interesting and equally odd case out of Oklahoma seems to be aimed at regulating the use of sharpies in a classroom. A boy was arrested for using a sharpie on his desk at school.

The 13-year-old "criminal" was writing with a sharpie when it bled through the paper and made markings on his desk. His teacher, DeLynn Woodside, rather than attempt to clean the inky mess called the local authorities. The boy was transferred to a juvenile holding center and the offending pen was booked into the property room.

Looking at the rather odd Oklahoma statute used in this case, it is easy to see how the boy's actions could potentially fall under its definition, according to the Smoking Gun. The city ordinance bans the use of spray paint or marker on private property without the owner's permission. Here, the boy was using the marker without the express permission of the school.

In reality, the purpose of the ordinance under which the boy was arrested (a citizen's arrest no less) is supposed to curb graffiti, not middle school doodling. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this case has nothing to do with the sharpie itself but the teacher that called him in; on her Facebook profile, she lists "Sharpie Markers" as one of her like interests.

Related Resources:

• Boy Arrested For Using Sharpie On Desk (The Examiner)
• Nicky Hilton Makes A Citizen's Arrest of a Man Outside IHOP; Can She Do That? (FindLaw's Common Law)
• Arrests and Interrogations FAQ (FindLaw)