Teen throws 8-year-old boy off 30ft-high waterslide because "the line was too slow"
An 8-year-old boy suffered multiple broken bones after 18-year-old Roman Alexander Adams allegedly picked him up and threw him over the safety railing of a water slide. The child plummeted off the 30feet waterslide.
Roman was later arrested and charged with third-degree assault.
According to the police report, Roman was standing behind the boy in the line while the two waited for their turn for the water slide. The boys did not know each other. Apple Valley Police Capt. Nick Francis stated that Roman was accompanied by a female professional personal care attendant and that he showed signs of “some developmental disabilities." He further added, "The male gave a statement that the line was moving too slow, and so he picked up and pushed the 8-year-old over the top of the slide platform,” Nick stated.
"He understood that doing that was going to cause harm to the individual, he knew that by throwing him over he knew the individual was going to be hurt, he shouldn’t have done it, and he admitted to picking this kid up and pushing him over,” Nick further added while speaking to People. Roman is set to make his first court appearance on Sept 17. The incident, which happened at Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center occurred just before 1:35 p.m.
After the incident took place, the boy was rushed to the hospital. Upon diagnosis, his injuries included broken femur in one leg, numerous fractures to both feet and shattered bones in a shoulder. While the identity of the boy is not yet made public, he still remains in hospital.
“The family is focusing on the care and recovery of their child, and they have asked that none of their personal information is released,” Nick said. The attendant, who had accompanied Roman to the park did not witness the incident taking place, and neither was she near the place when the accident occurred. The affidavit states that the platform at the top of the slide is 28.1 feet above the ground.
Speaking to the police about the incident, Roman stated that he was "waiting in line to use the slide and that it was taking a long time." He “admitted that he threw the child from the platform. Defendant was later interviewed by a detective with the Apple Valley Police Department during which he stated that the line was too long so he ‘pushed’ the child over the railing and saw him fall.”
Nick added that the water park has been run by Apple Valley, for almost 20 years. “This is absolutely unusual for them,” he said. He further added that the emergency calls to the park typically involve “skinned knees, someone takes in too much water, minor medical situations. Never do they expect to have someone thrown over the top of the platform down to the ground.”
Roman was booked into Dakota County jail on a $50,000 bond with conditions, and released after posting bond. However, the felony charge against him carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and fine up to $10,000.