RPD Officer Use Irritant On 9-Year-Old Girl According To Body Camera Footage

Upon arrival, officers say they were approached by a custodial parent of a minor to inform the officer that her child was going to cause self-harm to herself and others. The police were able to apprehend the minor without incident, but the minor became agitated when she saw her parent. Police say the minor pulled away and kicked at officers, which required an officer to take the minor down to the ground.

For the minor’s safety and at the request of the parent, the minor was put in handcuffs and detained in the backseat of a patrol car to await medical personnel. While the minor was detained, police say she refused to listen to multiple commands by officers to put her feet inside the patrol car. This required an officer to use an irritant on the minor.  The girl was taken to the hospital for treatment and was later released.

The Rochester Police Department said they were reviewing body camera footage and conducting an internal review to make sure policy has not been violated.  Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said that she was disappointed by the contents of the video, saying that the girl involved reminded her of her own daughter. “I can tell you that this video as a mother is not anything you want to see,” Warren said. “You have to understand compassion and empathy.” Rochester Police Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan also spoke at the press conference and did not defend the actions in the incident.

Source: News 10 NBC