NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The stuffed reindeer had apparently gotten out of hand so 6-year-old Kevon Gorham, who wants to be a police officer, handcuffed one of his favorite toys.

Just to make sure the animal didn't run, or fly, away, the child attached one end of the toy handcuffs to his own wrist. And that meant the family had to call the real police Wednesday.

"I was watching TV in the bedroom and he came in there with handcuffs on. He was crying, and he said he couldn't get it off," said the boy's mother, Rolandra Wright, who tried to remove the handcuff.

North Charleston police patrolman Phillip Alger arrived and tried a key to his handcuffs and then bolt cutters. But he couldn't use the cutters without hurting the boy.

Then three firefighters arrived and tried soapy water and a bigger pair of bolt cutters, but again to no avail.

Finally North Charleston Fire Department engineer Burgess Atkins used a less involved method - he picked the toy lock with a hairpin.

"I might ask Santa Claus to get me a police key for Christmas," Kevon said when it was all over.

Claus might bring it too, but perhaps only on the condition no reindeer are again shackled.

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