Sheriff supports deputies who restrained and handcuffed 11-year-old girl after they mistakenly identified her as a suspect.

 The sheriff’s office stated, "The situation was resolved swiftly, mainly due to the juvenile's attitude, patience, and willingness to cooperate." The girl was handcuffed for a duration of seven minutes.

Sheriff's deputies detain an 11-year-old girl who they believed matched the person's description

Jan. 17, 2025, 2:57 AM GMT+6

The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office in New York defended its deputies' decision to detain and handcuff an 11-year-old girl, claiming she matched the description of a suspect involved in a car theft. This defense came after a video of the incident was shared online, prompting public criticism. The sheriff’s office stated that the deputies' actions were "reasonable" but acknowledged that its policy would be updated to require notification to a parent or guardian when a child is detained for investigative purposes—something that was not done in this case.

The 11-year-old, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was detained for seven minutes on Monday afternoon in Syracuse. Authorities noted she was dressed similarly to a person wanted in connection with a stolen vehicle. She was apprehended a few blocks away from where the stolen car had been spotted, according to the sheriff's office.

Both the girl and the suspect were Black, though the wanted individual remains unidentified and at large. The sheriff’s office reported that a deputy’s dashcam had recorded the girl fleeing from the stolen vehicle.

A woman, claiming to be the child's mother, posted videos of the encounter on Facebook, which quickly went viral, being shared nearly 6,000 times by Thursday afternoon. The post received more than 130 comments, mostly criticizing the sheriff’s office for handcuffing the girl and for failing to inform her parents. In the footage, the girl can be seen standing with two deputies, her hands cuffed behind her back, on a snow-covered sidewalk. One of the children with her explains they were coming from school, and the deputy tells them that someone matching the girl's description had just stolen a car. The children clarify that they cannot drive, to which the deputy responds that most children can’t drive, yet still commit crimes.

The deputies explain that the suspect was described as wearing a pink jacket and camouflage pants, a description similar to what the girl was wearing. The female deputy says she is waiting for a photo of the suspect to verify whether the detained girl is the individual they are searching for.

Upon receiving the photo, the deputy shows it to the handcuffed girl and asks, "Girl, you gonna tell me this ain’t you?" The children, standing around the deputy, point out the differences between the girl and the suspect, including differences in skin tone and footwear. The girl can be heard crying during the exchange.

The sheriff’s office later stated that a deputy had used FaceTime to compare the girl with the suspect shown in the dashcam video and confirmed she was not the person they were looking for. The office also highlighted several discrepancies between the girl and the suspect, such as differences in camouflage patterns and the texture of their clothing. The situation was resolved quickly, thanks to the girl's cooperation, the sheriff’s office noted.

Sheriff Tobias Shelley met with the girl's mother to address her concerns and expressed understanding about her distress over not being notified about her daughter's detainment. The sheriff's office announced that it would change its procedures to ensure parents or guardians are contacted whenever a child is detained for investigative reasons.

The New York Civil Liberties Union condemned the deputies’ actions, expressing concern over the aggressive treatment of the young girl and the failure to notify her parents. They raised issues about potential racial bias and questioned the adequacy of the deputies' training and protocols. The organization called for the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office to engage with the community and make further changes based on community feedback.

The sheriff’s office defended its standard practice of handcuffing detainees, especially juveniles, as a precautionary measure in case they become uncooperative or attempt to flee. They stated that this procedure is lawful, aligns with policy, and is a common practice in law enforcement.

The girl's mother, in an interview with local news, said she was shocked and couldn't understand what she saw when watching the video.