The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office released a detailed timeline explaining the events leading to the detention of an 11-year-old girl mistaken for a car theft suspect. According to the account, the girl was detained at 2:40 p.m. on January 12 after officers believed her clothing matched the description of a suspect involved in a stolen Kia. The suspect was wearing a pink jacket, camouflage pants, and carrying a pink bag. Upon closer examination, deputies determined the detained girl was not the suspect and released her by 2:47 p.m.
The Sheriff's Office stated that the detainment was "lawful and reasonable" but acknowledged the need to notify parents in such situations. Moving forward, the office will require parental notification when juveniles are detained. Sheriff Toby Shelley met with the girl's mother to address her concerns, describing the conversation as "productive."
The video of the incident, captured by the girl's cousin, sparked outrage online. It shows the girl in tears, handcuffed, while her peers repeatedly insist to the deputies that they have the wrong person. "Girl, you're gonna tell me that's not you?" one deputy is heard saying after comparing her to the suspect's photo. Another adds, "It is what it is. If you're honest, it will make it easy." The situation de-escalates once deputies identify differences in the girl's appearance compared to the suspect.
The girl's mother expressed deep frustration, stating, "That's not how you handle children." Bishop H. Bernard Alex, President of the National Action Network Syracuse Chapter, criticized the deputies for further damaging community trust, praising the children's maturity during the ordeal. He emphasized, "They're babies... Let's not take that maturity for, 'Oh, they'll be OK.'"
Michael Alcazar, a John Jay College adjunct professor, questioned the use of handcuffs on the child. "I hate to Monday morning quarterback police officers, but... an 11-year-old I probably wouldn't put in handcuffs," he said, while noting the complexity of such "show-up" investigations. Alcazar, a former NYPD detective, acknowledged the challenges but was relieved the interaction ended peacefully.
Link: CNY Central