Stowaway’s dad says he requested help for problem son

Associated Press

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013 | 11:25 a.m.

MINNEAPOLIS — The father of a 9-year-old boy who evaded security to stow away on a flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas says he's been frustrated in his efforts to get help for the troubled boy.

The father spoke to reporters in Minneapolis on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, with a hoodie and baseball cap pulled low to hide his face. Sobbing at times, he said Hennepin County officials told him they couldn't help because his son hadn't done anything bad enough yet.

A leaked memo from the county's human services department earlier this week says the boy's background included auto theft and sneaking into a suburban water park.

Carolyn Marinan, a county spokeswoman, said she couldn't comment on the boy's case due to privacy restrictions.