Cedar Hill 3rd Grader Questioned By Police

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CEDAR HILL (CBSDFW.COM) – Cedar Hill Police detectives working a case, questioned a possible witness at her school.  That possible witness is 8-years-old and her mother, Alicia Chenevert did not know about it ahead of time.    

"I was disturbed by it," she said Friday, a block from the Cedar Hill Police Department.  

"Guess what? The police came to our school and asked me questions," Chenevert repeated from her child's announcement. 

Two detectives, investigating a possible assault from June, were informed Chenevert's daughter may have been a witness.  The mother said she would've been happy to assist police with her child, but said they didn't contact her.

"It's just not an ideal situation for an 8-year-old to be questioned by police officers without the comfort of a parent or a counselor or a teacher," she said.

Cedar Hill Police said there are no policies that require officers to contact parents in non-criminal inquiries of children, although it is often standard practice.

"Certainly our preference is contact with parents prior to speaking to child," Lt. Colin Chenault said. "Our detectives tried to reach the parent, but were unsuccessful."

Chenevert said parents need to know who can access their children without parental consent.

"I just can't believe they let two male officers talk with my daughter alone," she said.

The Cedar Hill School District did not respond to phone calls from CBS11.

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