Florida Man Takes Young Son On Crime Spree To Toughen Him Up

A Florida father took his son on a major crime spree because he was afraid that he would become “soft,” and wanted to toughen him up.

Ernest McKnight III, 36, from Lake Wales, was arrested on Thursday and charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, grand theft motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, petit theft and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He took an 8-year old with him for the majority of the crimes.

When deputies asked McKnight about the child, he responded,

“I was trying to toughen him up … I don’t want him to be soft.”

RELATED: “Jurassic Park” Trends On Twitter After Giant Alligator Is Seen Wandering Across Florida Golf Course

“Taking a child out with you while you’re committing felonies is not the proper way to create a positive influence. I’m quite confident that there is not a child psychologist out there who would agree with this guy’s idea of proper activity for a child,” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said in a press release.