Honk News (Syracuse, NY) – A young girl, just 11 years old, from upstate New York found herself in a distressing situation when police mistakenly handcuffed her, believing she was a suspect in a car theft due to her similar clothing.
On the afternoon of January 13, a girl from Syracuse was making her way home from school, enjoying the snow with her friends, when deputies from Onondaga County approached her and placed her in handcuffs. The sheriff’s office released a timeline after receiving numerous media inquiries and social media engagement, stating that they notified the girl she resembled a suspect involved in a car theft that occurred the previous day.
As the police conducted the stop, the girl’s cousin, accompanying her, began to film the encounter on her phone. The young girl, together with her peers, firmly told the authorities that she bore no responsibility for the unlawful deed.
At 1:53 p.m., the stolen vehicle was seen, prompting all four individuals to escape on foot. A 14-year-old driver was taken into custody at 2:07 p.m., while descriptions of three additional suspects were shared via police radio. Authorities apprehended two male suspects in the vicinity at 2:18 p.m.
One last female suspect was captured on a police dashcam. She donned a fluffy pink coat paired with camouflage trousers, strikingly similar to the attire of the 11-year-old girl. Authorities observed her strolling along the street at 2:38 p.m. and apprehended her at 2:40 p.m.
When questioned about the supposed offense, she and her companions refuted any involvement. Authorities alleged that they were being untruthful, stating, “It is what it is.” Being truthful simplifies everything.
During the interrogation of the girl, authorities sought a copy of the image captured by the dashcam that depicted the female suspect. One of the officers presented the image to the restrained girl and inquired, “Girl, you gonna tell me this ain’t you?”
Authorities attempted to persuade the other children to move along, urging them to “keep going,” yet they remained steadfast, choosing to stay by the side of the girl, whose sobs can be heard just out of view.
Authorities initiated a FaceTime call with the deputy who reviewed the dashcam footage, and he informed the officers with the girl that she was not the individual they were seeking. The individual in question had longer hair, while the girl was observed with two ponytails or buns. Their complexions were clearly different, leading to the conclusion that while the coats and pants bore similarities, they were not identical.
The young girl was set free at 2:47 p.m. The officers expressed their regret to the young girl, stating, “I’m sorry about it, but you matched the description pretty clearly.”
During a conversation with WSTM, a local NBC station, the mother of the girl, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed her refusal to accept the apology extended by the sheriff’s office. She expressed to WSTM, “I don’t want to walk to and from school anymore.” That was her sole freedom, and it has now vanished.
As part of their statement following the incident, the sheriff’s office explained that “[h]andcuffing juveniles in this circumstance is lawful, within policy, and common practice in law enforcement,” and that “[h]andcuffing from the start usually prevents a controlled situation from devolving into an uncontrolled situation; ultimately preventing altercations, force, and potential for injury.”
The announcement revealed that the Sheriff’s Office held a private meeting with the girl’s mother, characterizing the discussion as “productive.” Officials announced that moving forward, the policy will mandate the notification of a parent or guardian whenever a juvenile is detained for criminal investigative reasons, regardless of the duration of the interaction.