A video showing a sobbing 8-year-old Black boy being held by his arms by a white officer and being placed in a Syracuse Police Department patrol car has gone viral and sparked outrage about how the child was treated.
His alleged crime? Stealing a bag full of Doritos.
“Syracuse police really? Over a bag of chips ? He’s just a kid,”One poster was written.
“This is an absolute disgrace! Shame on those officers. That poor kid was traumatized. Look at his face!” said another.
“Gee, why don’t Black people trust the police?”Someone else wrote it.
Video of Bystander posted Monday about the weekend incident has been viewed more than 2.3M times on Twitter.
“What is y’all doing?”According to Kenneth Jackson (37-year-old), Jackson repeatedly questions the bystander. Syracuse.com. “He looks like a baby to me.”
“He’s stealing stuff,”Answers another cop.
“I’ll pay for it,”The man replies. “Leave him alone.”
Jackson is instructed to “keep walking” “you don’t know what you’re talking about,”by the white officers while the child sobs hysterically
Anthony Weah stated to Syracuse.com that he was on Sunday running errands when he received a call from police. He said that they were at his house along with his three children.
Weah was informed by officers that his two sons were involved with stealing a bag full of chips. He said. Weah stated that the boys were not charged and that the cops had left.
He didn’t see the viral clip of his son being forced in the cruiser, as he cried out.
“Why would the police treat that child like that?” Weah asked. “Over a $3 bag of chips.”
Police later issued a statement, saying the boy was not placed in handcuffs and no charges were filed. The incident was documented. “being reviewed.”
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said in a statement Tuesday that he was initially “concerned”He said the boy was taken to his home after he had seen the video. By investing in children and their families, the city can better support them. “alternative response options”Mayor Walsh was added to the list,
