Video shows Syracuse police detaining a crying 8-year-old boy

An outside video showing Syracuse, New York police detaining an 8-year-old boy sobbing has prompted an internal investigation, officials said.

The videowhich has amassed 5 million views as of Wednesday morning, shows an officer standing behind the boy and restraining him with both hands while the child cries.

NBC News had no idea what happened before an outsider began recording.

The minute-long clip begins with a man leaving the camera asking the officer holding the boy what they were doing before commenting that the child “looks like a baby to me”.

Another officer appeared and said to the man: “He is stealing. If he breaks into your house and steals something”. His voice then became inaudible.

“You all treat him like a bloody, heavy-duty killer,” the man replied.

The officer said, “Keep going, buddy. You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

The camera then pans to a police car where the boy is located.

A second voice can be heard.

“That’s crazy,” the person said. “How old is he? 10 years old?”

Syracuse police in a third statement said the child was never handcuffed and body camera footage was being reviewed.

“We (SPD) are aware of a video shared on social media involving some of our Employees and minors allegedly stealing from a store north of the City. The incident, including the actions of the Officers and the body-worn cameras, is under review,” the statement said. “There is some misinformation regarding this case. Juveniles suspected of being larvae should not be handcuffed. He was placed in the rear of a patrol unit where he was taken directly home. Officers have met the child’s father and no charges have been filed. ”

Syracuse police did not respond to a request for further comment on the incident, even as it happened. Instead, a representative for the department provided a statement from Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh.

Walsh said what happened demonstrates the need to continue to support children and families while investing in alternative responses “to support our officers.”

“When the online video was first shared with me on Monday, I was nervous. I have asked Sheriff Buckner and the SPD to review all body-worn camera footage, which is ongoing,” the mayor said.

“Employees responded to a call to a burglary that had just occurred at a nearby business. Based on what I’ve seen, the camera footage shows the officer not using handcuffs at any point. The child was put in the back of the patrol car and taken to the family home. The officer knew the child from previous interactions and explained to him that he had been taken home. Officers returned the child to his family and discussed the matter with his father before leaving without filing any charges.”

NBC affiliate WSTM of Syracuse reported that the boy in the video was 8 years old. The press also spoke to an outsider who said he had filmed the video.

“I felt his horror and decided to intervene,” said bystander Kenneth Jackson. Police did not handle the matter correctly, according to Jackson.

“There is a way the police need to interact with children, and what they did that day was completely unacceptable,” he said.

at Blogtuan.info – Source: nbcnews.com – Read the original article here