A McDermott man who suspected a neighborhood child had sabotaged his vehicle got some practical advice from Scioto County Sheriff’s deputies: have a mechanic determine whether the brake lines were actually cut before accusing anyone.
Deputies were called after the man reported he believed a 12-year-old boy had intentionally damaged his vehicle.
🚗 “I THINK HE CUT MY BRAKE LINES”
According to the report, the man claimed his brake lines had been cut and believed a juvenile was responsible.
The caller told deputies he had security camera footage showing the boy walking toward the vehicle.
However, he alleged the child’s mother later deleted the video.
The man also told deputies the boy was currently on probation.
👀 MOM OFFERS DIFFERENT VERSION
Deputies spoke with the boy’s mother during the investigation.
According to the report, she told officers she had seen her son during a curfew check the previous evening.
She also pointed out that the vehicle owner had reportedly said the brake lines were cut the day before—not that morning.
🔧 DEPUTY RECOMMENDS A MECHANIC
Rather than immediately pursuing criminal charges, deputies focused on a key question:
Were the brake lines actually cut?
Officers advised the man to take the vehicle to a repair shop and have a mechanic inspect it.
If a mechanic determines the brake lines were intentionally damaged, deputies advised him to contact the Sheriff’s Office and provide documentation.
⚖️ WHY PROOF MATTERS
Claims involving damaged brake lines are taken seriously because intentionally cutting a vehicle’s brakes can create a potentially deadly situation.
But law enforcement still needs evidence before pursuing charges.
Brake failures can result from:
- Corrosion
- Wear and tear
- Road debris
- Mechanical failures
- Animal damage
- Intentional tampering
Determining which one occurred often requires a professional inspection.
🤷 A MYSTERY FOR NOW
At this point, deputies have a complaint, an allegation, and a suspected culprit.
What they don’t have is proof that a crime actually occurred.
Until a mechanic determines whether the brake lines were intentionally cut, the case remains more neighborhood mystery than criminal investigation.
For now, the next stop isn’t the jail.
It’s the repair shop.
