Police Handcuff Crying 11-Year-Old Schoolgirl Mistaken For Kia Thief

Police thought they’d captured someone fleeing from a stolen vehicle but that wasn’t the reality

The treatment of hardened criminals is often overlooked even when it’s questionable. How police officers treat juveniles is another story altogether though. In this case, the underage person ended up teary-eyed and in handcuffs despite her innocence. Officers let her go when they realized their mistake and now, the Sheriff is openly supporting their actions.

More: Alleged Serial Car Dealer Thief Turns Out To Be A 12-Year-Old Boy, And Cops Can’t Charge Him

The scene unfolded in Syracuse on January 11. At around 2 p.m., deputies from Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office  the noticed a stolen Kia and attempted to pull it over. Officers say the driver fled the scene and soon after ditched the car. Evidently, several individuals jumped out and ran away from the vehicle on foot. Naturally, police gave chase and at least one suspect escaped the scene.

Mistaken Identity Leads to Handcuffing And Tears

Roughly 40 minutes later, officers detained an 11-year-old girl in the area, suspecting she was one of the individuals who had fled from the vehicle. She had been walking home from school with a group of other children, including her cousin, who began recording the interaction as soon as officers placed her in handcuffs.

Authorities told CNYCentral that she was detained for a total of seven minutes as officers determined if, in fact, she was the one they were looking for. The officers stated that her clothing was a near-perfect match for that of the suspect.

According to KLTV, although she and her friends repeatedly insisted they had the wrong person, officers allegedly dismissed their claims and accused them of lying. One deputy reportedly showed the girl a photo of the suspect and said, “Girl, you gonna tell me this ain’t you?” When additional deputies arrived, the 11-year-old broke down in tears.

After consulting with the officer who conducted the initial traffic stop, the deputies ultimately released the girl. “I’m sorry about it, but you matched the description pretty clearly,” one deputy said.

The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement defending the officers’ decision to handcuff her during the brief detention:

“Why would we handcuff this child? Detainees are usually handcuffed initially. Detainees may become uncooperative, may decide to flee, or may decide to fight. In some cases, detainees may be armed or have contraband/evidence they will try to destroy. Handcuffing from the start usually prevents a controlled situation from devolving into an uncontrolled situation; ultimately preventing altercations, force, and potential for injury. The police do not definitively know a person’s age and ascertaining that information is part of the detainment process. Handcuffing juveniles in this circumstance is lawful, within policy, and common practice in law enforcement.”

A Policy Change in Progress

It’s worth asking what the right solution here is. For now, the department says that it’s going to update its policy regarding the detention of minors. From now on, it’ll inform parents or legal guardians anytime it detains a minor. That seems like a practical move that should only add a bit of transparency to police work.

While it might sound wild that a youngster of this age could even be considered a suspect don’t let that age fool you. Back in 2017, we told you about a story where an 11-year-old led police on a chase after stealing his parent’s car for a third time. Last year, we reported on two other examples of two different 11-year-olds leading police on separate chases. 

For now, the department’s policy update might help restore a bit of trust, but the incident remains a stark example of how easily things can go wrong when children are involved in police operations.

Image Credit: Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office