Family claims 5-year-old was beaten at Cub Scout meeting while pack leader was outside vaping

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) - An Ohio family has filed a lawsuit against Scouting America after their 5-year-old son was allegedly beaten and suffered a broken leg during a Cub Scout meeting.

Breanna and Christopher Russell say their son – identified in this report only as D.R. – was punched, knocked down and stomped by an older Cub Scout during a Pack 422 meeting on Dec. 4 in Bowling Green, Ohio. The family says the pack leader was outside vaping when the incident happened. They are seeking more than $25,000 in damages.

Breanna Russell said the Scouts were having an indoor snowball fight when the attack took place.

“D.R. had reached for a snowball. He was leaning down – that’s when the boy had punched him in the head, punched him in his stomach, knocked him over and stomped on his leg,” she said. “I didn’t see it happen. I was on the other side of the room, but I heard his yell.”

D.R. is the Russells’ only child, so they always stay at the Scout meetings. The 5-year-old was rushed to the emergency room. He suffered a serious fracture to his thighbone in the incident and has undergone two surgeries.

D.R. is currently using a wheelchair and has been unable to return to school.

“He hasn’t been back to school because we have to help him to the restroom. We have to help him get on the toilet. The school is not adequately, I don’t feel, prepared for that,” Christopher Russell said.

The parents’ lawsuit names Erie Shores Council Incorporated, the Boy Scouts of America, the pack leader and the minor accused in the attack. It alleges negligent supervision and emotional distress.

Breanna Russell said she was told the pack leader was outside at the time of the incident.

“The scoutmaster was outside, to my knowledge. I was told he was outside vaping with some other parents,” she said.

The family’s attorney, Chuck Boyk, said the organization failed to keep younger and older Scouts separated.

“They’re also supposed to keep the younger kids together with younger kids, and the older kids with the older kids. They didn’t do that correctly,” he said.

Boyk added the incident was not reported for several days.

“In this case, the Cub Scouts are mandatory reporters, which means you have to report a physical assault incident immediately. The Cub Scouts did not report it until four days later, and that’s only because our parents reported it to the Bowling Green Police,” he said.

Bowling Green Police said the investigation is complete, and they were in touch with the juvenile prosecutor’s office, which declined to pursue criminal charges. Police referred the incident to Job and Family Services.

Erie Shores Council provided the following statement, which reads in part:

“Council leadership has been in direct and ongoing communication with the family to check on the Scout’s condition and to offer assistance. We have worked closely with them to help guide the insurance process and ensure they had the information and support they needed.”