Mother furious after cops detain her 10-YEAR-OLD son during a robbery investigation, and she insists he did nothing wrong
- Footage shows a 10-year-old boy being handcuffed and detained by police
- The boy was detained with other kids after cops received reports of a robbery
- The victim told police that a group of youngsters beat him and took his phone
- The mother of the boy who was detained expressed anger that police took her son away and failed to let her know
A mother expressed her anger after her son, 10, was detained by police and handcuffed during a robbery investigation.
A number of children were were stopped by police on Saturday after they allegedly assaulted and robbed another young boy in Washington D.C.
Police there responded to the 200 block of Massachusetts Avenue for the report of a robbery at about 4 am on Saturday.
A mother expressed her anger after her son, 10, (pictured), was detained by police and handcuffed during a robbery investigation
The victim, who was a young boy, told police he was approached by other youngsters who beat him up and took his cellphone, WUSA 9 reported.
Later a number of boys were stopped by police in the area shortly after the incident, including Chaquitta Williams’ two children.
Footage shows her 10-year-old son being handcuffed by officers while a number of bystanders shout ‘he is just a child’ as he is led to a squad car.
Three police surround Williams’ tiny son as they handcuff him with his hands behind his back and bring him to an awaiting squad car.
The footage was shared on social media and has gone viral, with many expressing outrage that a child was detained in such a manner.
Williams said that her son was walking home from Union Station with his brother, 14, and a few friends Saturday when the incident happened.
She told WUSA 9: ‘So my son, by him being with them, he’s going to run. Him and his brother.
Chaquitta Williams two sons were detained by police and she expressed anger that police did not call her. She arrived at the scene 45 minutes later after a bystander contacted her
‘That’s why I told them you shouldn’t have never ran. If you run, they’re going to assume that you’re doing something.
‘It was hurting me. There were so many people out there, I didn’t know what to do. My mind was just blown from the situation.
‘I see my son on the ground with three police around him at just 10-years-old,’ she added.
Footage shows the 10-year-old boy being handcuffed by officers while a number of bystanders shout ‘he is just a child’ as he is led to a squad car
The child was taken by officers but police did not find he had done anything wrong
Williams’ sons were later released without incident. However a 13-year-old in the group was arrested and charged with armed robbery.
Cops revealed later on that they recovered a BB gun from the scene early on Monday.
A statement provided by police claimed that officers on the scene contacted the Youth and Family Services Division, which is in line with police protocol.
Ward Six council member Charles Allen said the incident raises important questions about how the police handle juvenile suspects.
He said: ‘I think it’s a fair question for us to have and a fair conversation to have with MPD about should a 10-year-old have their hands behind their back, be handcuffed and put into a car.
‘Are there other ways for us to think about our work with juveniles?,’ Allen asked.