Story Archive

Another Contender for the Award

Sloane Briles, 35, says he “did nothing except jump in the water with my kid.” But that’s not how witnesses describe it. Briles — and the witnesses — were on a cruise boat for a day excursion in California’s Newport Harbor. They say Briles got into an argument with his girlfriend, and his 7-year-old son became upset. Witnesses say Briles repeatedly slapped the boy, and then tossed him overboard into the water — into the middle of heavy boat traffic. Several boats diverted to rescue the child, who was not injured. It was only after the boy had been rescued that Briles jumped into the water to “save him” — witnesses say he really jumped in to escape outraged passengers. When Orange County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to investigate, Briles allegedly was combative and then resisted arrest. “We were having fun,” Briles told reporters later. “It was a harbor cruise!” After investigation, Briles has been charged with felony child endangerment, and faces up to six years in prison. (RC/KTLA Los Angeles) ...By then, let’s hope the kid is bigger than him.