Sheriff Defends Handcuffing of 11-Year-Old Girl Mistaken for Car Theft Suspect

The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office in New York has defended its deputies after they detained and handcuffed an 11-year-old girl, mistakenly believing she matched the description of a car theft suspect. The incident, which occurred in Syracuse, has sparked widespread criticism following the release of video footage of the encounter.

According to the sheriff’s office, the girl, whose identity has not been disclosed, was handcuffed for approximately seven minutes while officers responded to a report of a stolen car. The deputies asserted that she dressed similarly to the suspect—both wearing a pink jacket and camouflage pants. However, the wanted individual has not yet been captured, and no further specifics about them have been released.

Amid public outcry and comments from the child's mother on social media expressing her outrage, the sheriff stated that future procedures will include notifying a parent or guardian when any juvenile is detained for investigative purposes, which did not happen in this case.

Critically, the New York Civil Liberties Union condemned the actions of the deputies as emblematic of implicit racial bias, emphasizing the need for improved training and community engagement.

Sheriff Tobias Shelley acknowledged the concerns raised by the girl's family and emphasized the deputies' initial intent to ensure compliance during the investigation. The department maintains that handcuffing juveniles under similar circumstances is within policy and standard law enforcement practice.

The incident has intensified discussions about policing policies and practices, particularly those involving minors.