Aurora police arrest a black family at gunpoint after mistakenly thinking their car was stolen

Black family, including two teenage girls and a six-year-old, are detained and handcuffed at GUNPOINT after cops mistakenly thought their car was stolen

  • A black family, with children ranging in age from six to 17, were detained and handcuffed at gunpoint in Aurora, Colorado 
  • Bystander video has emerged showing the family lying on their stomach with their hands behind their backs on Sunday morning  
  • Driver Brittney Gilliam had been traveling in the blue SUV with her nieces, younger sister and daughter  
  • Police detained the family because the car matched the license plate number of a stolen vehicle
  • They later realized they were looking for a motorcycle from out of state  

A black family traveling in an SUV with children aged six to 17, were detained and handcuffed at gunpoint after police mistakenly thought their vehicle was stolen. 

Bystander footage has emerged on social media showing the moment Aurora Police  officers in Colorado arrested a driver and a group of young girls in the parking lot of a thrift store on Sunday morning.   

The shocking video clip shows the family lying on their stomachs with their hands behind their backs in broad daylight as officers escort them into police vehicles. 

 

Aurora Police were filmed detaining and handcuffing a black family with young children after they mistakenly thought their car was stolen 

Bystander footage shows children ranging in age from six to 17, sitting on the ground of a parking lot on Sunday

Bystander footage shows children ranging in age from six to 17, sitting on the ground of a parking lot on Sunday 

The younger family members can be heard screaming and crying as police lead the driver away in handcuffs

The younger family members can be heard screaming and crying as police lead the driver away in handcuffs

The younger family members can be heard crying and screaming during the arrest.  

The incident was a case of mistaken identity after cops believed the vehicle was possibly stolen, having identified a vehicle that matched the license plate number and description they were given.

They later determined they were actually looking for a motorcycle with the same number but from out of state. 

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Brittney Gilliam, who had been traveling in the vehicle with her nieces, younger sister and daughter.

She told local station 9News that she had taken her family to get their nails done. 

After realizing the salon was closed, the family got back in their car but were soon surrounded by officers who had their guns drawn.

Police later realized they were looking for a motorcycle with the same license plate number but from out of state

Police later realized they were looking for a motorcycle with the same license plate number but from out of state 

Chief Vanessa Wilson with the Aurora Police Department released a statement on Twitter following the incident.

‘We have been training our officers that when they contact a suspected stolen car, they should do what is called a high-risk stop,’ she wrote.

‘This involves drawing their weapons and ordering all occupants to exit the car and lie prone on the ground.’

‘I have called the family to apologize and to offer any help we can provide, especially for the children who may have been traumatized by yesterday’s events. I have reached out to our victim advocates so we can offer age-appropriate therapy that the city will cover.’

Chief Wilson said an internal investigation has also been opened.

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