An 11-year-old woman was filmed being handcuffed on a avenue nook by authorities in New York state after being wrongly recognized as a suspect in a automobile theft, drawing outrage from the kid’s mom and a outstanding civil rights group.
The woman was reportedly returning dwelling from faculty Monday in Syracuse with different kids when deputies with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Workplace singled her out because the suspect resulting from her clothes.
The woman, who’s Black, was carrying a pink, puffy jacket and camouflage pants, just like what was worn by the suspect, authorities stated.
Onondaga County Sheriff’s Workplace
The woman was handcuffed for about seven minutes as deputies in contrast a picture of the suspect with the detained youngster, authorities stated. Upon realizing their mistake, they launched her with an apology and stated that she appeared just like the wished particular person.
“I imply, I’m sorry, you may see the way it might match that description,” one of many deputies instructed her, in accordance with video of the incident shared by Syracuse.com.
The footage appeared to point out the woman sobbing as she was launched on a sidewalk and comforted by different kids round her.
The sheriff’s workplace defended the deputies in a press release dated Tuesday. “Handcuffing from the beginning often prevents a managed state of affairs from devolving into an uncontrolled state of affairs,” it stated.
“In reviewing the incident, the detainment of the juvenile was lawful and affordable, given the juvenile’s proximity and clothes description,” the sheriff’s workplace stated. It credited the “juvenile’s disposition, persistence, and cooperation” for serving to rapidly clear her of wrongdoing.
The sheriff’s workplace stated it met with the woman’s mom to debate her issues about having not been knowledgeable that her youngster was detained as a part of a legal investigation. The mom, talking with native station WSTM, stated she solely realized in regards to the incident by way of her daughter and video recorded by one other youngster on the scene.
“I couldn’t even end watching the video,” the woman’s mom, who requested to not be recognized, instructed the outlet. “Even when it wasn’t my youngster, I wouldn’t have the ability to end watching the video as a result of that’s not the way you deal with kids.”
Going ahead, the sheriff’s workplace stated {that a} guardian or guardian of any juvenile detained for legal investigative functions will likely be notified. Beforehand, workplace coverage solely required notification if there was an arrest.
The New York Civil Liberties Union joined in on condemning the deputies’ actions, calling their conduct disturbing and aggressive.
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“This mistreatment raises severe issues about implicit racial bias, which too typically leads legislation enforcement officers to understand kids of shade as a menace,” Victoria Coit, a senior organizer with the group, stated in a press release Wednesday.
“It additionally raises questions on acceptable coaching and protocols within the Sheriff’s workplace. The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Workplace should interact the neighborhood in dialogue and make additional adjustments with neighborhood enter,” Coit stated.