8 year old kid gets pepper sprayed by the police.

[replicant_argent]

so, according to his mom, he "doesn't have these issues at home," or somesuch.

That tells me that he is probably just a little sh!t when he doesn't think he is going to get into trouble. The professionals don't think there is an actual mental problem with him, mom says? Okay, that leaves a simple discipline problem.
I may not be the worlds greatest dad, but I can recognize bullsh!t when I see it.