Marinscope
A Novato man was arrested last week for allegedly abusing two children at Pioneer Park.
The police reported that on July 27 at about 7:30 p.m. “officers responded to the report of an assault on two juveniles at Pioneer Park, 1007 Simmons Lane.”
Once on scene, police learned that Olaf Becker (a 61-year-old male Novato resident) had asked two children (ages 7 and 8) to stop throwing items onto the park tennis courts, which were in use. When the children did not stop, Becker confronted the children. Becker reportedly struck both children resulting in minor injury to one child. Families in the immediate area intervened and Becker returned to the tennis courts.”
Becker told the Independent News that the whole deal was “completely blown out of proportion.” Becker said the kids repeatedly threw items onto the tennis court, despite being asked to stop it.
The alleged “minor injury” was not described in the police account.
Becker said he did not hit either kid, but did hold on to one child by the shirt to tell the child that the behavior was “not OK.”
The police report said “Both children were checked by Novato Fire Protection District personnel and released to their parents. Becker was arrested for violations of 273a(a) PC – Child Abuse and 273d(a) PC – Corporal Injury to a child. He was transported and booked into Marin County Jail.”
The matter now goes to the District Attorney’s office for evaluation.
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