A 13-year-old boy accused of stealing from a store inside a shopping mall was taken into custody after putting up a fight, then had the audacity to complain about “excessive force” and lecture police about children’s rights.
The tense arrest was captured on shaky video and posted online Saturday, instantly going viral and igniting a firestorm of debate over whether cops went too far with a minor.
In the footage, the boy can be seen clutching the officer’s shirt and gear as the cop works to restrain and cuff him. The youngster loudly protests the arrest, insisting it’s over the top and invoking his rights as a child.
Moments later, an adult woman, identified in the post as his “aunt”, rushes into the scene, yelling at the officer to let the boy go and demanding he respect the child’s rights.
According to the post that shared the clip, the boy was held for just a few hours before being released on bail. His family is now reportedly planning to sue the officer.
The boy allegedly stole from a store in the mall. He was detained, processed, and released on bail within hours, standard procedure for a juvenile in many jurisdictions.
Now the family wants to turn the tables with a lawsuit.
Critics say the whole episode perfectly illustrates a troubling trend: young people committing crimes, resisting arrest, and then crying victim while their guardians rush to interfere.
At 13, the boy is old enough to know stealing is wrong. Resisting police only escalates a situation that could have been resolved quickly and quietly.
The officer, by contrast, appears calm and professional throughout the clip despite the boy grabbing at him and the aunt’s interference.
Whether the threatened lawsuit ever sees the inside of a courtroom is anyone’s guess. But the video tells its own story, one of a kid who got caught, threw a tantrum, and now wants to play the victim.
Actions have consequences. Even for 13-year-olds who think they can shoplift and then lecture cops about their rights.
