The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office in New York defended two deputies who detained and handcuffed an 11-year-old girl, believing she matched the description of a suspect involved in the theft of a car. The girl, who is Black, was handcuffed for seven minutes but was not the wanted suspect. The video of the incident sparked criticism, leading the sheriff’s office to change its policy to notify parents or guardians of detained children. The mother of the child shared videos of the incident, expressing her concerns about the handling of the situation.
In the video, the deputies can be seen questioning the girl and other children she was with, based on their clothing matching that of the suspect. While the deputies initially believed they had the right person, they eventually realized their mistake due to differences in appearances of the girl and the actual suspect. The sheriff’s office emphasized that the situation was resolved quickly because of the girl’s cooperation and demeanor.
Critics, including the New York Civil Liberties Union, condemned the deputies’ actions, citing concerns about racial bias and lack of parental notification. The sheriff’s office defended the use of handcuffs on juveniles in certain circumstances and stated that changes to policies would be made to notify parents of detained juveniles. The girl’s mother expressed shock and disbelief at how her daughter was handled during the incident.
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