Rochester Law enforcement officials handcuff and pepper-spray a 9-year-old lady after name of ‘household bother’

At a press convention on Sunday, Interim Rochester Police Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan mentioned that the police’s therapy of the lady was not acceptable.

“I am not going to face right here and let you know that for a 9-year-old to need to be pepper-sprayed is OK. It isn’t,” she mentioned. “I do not see that as who we’re as a division, and we will do the work we now have to do to make sure that these sorts of issues do not occur.”

Mayor Warren mentioned Sunday that she had spoken with the lady’s mom and that town’s Particular person in Disaster psychological well being workforce could be reaching out to the household.

“It’s clear from the video that we have to do extra in supporting our kids and households,” Warren mentioned.

She additionally mentioned the lady reminded her of her personal younger daughter.

“I’ve a 10-year-old daughter. So she’s a baby; she’s a child. And I can let you know that this video, as a mom, shouldn’t be something that you simply wish to see. It isn’t,” Warren mentioned. “We now have to know compassion, empathy. When you’ve a baby that’s struggling on this manner, and calling out for her dad, I noticed my child’s face in her face.”

Police say they have been responding to a report of ‘household bother’

Officers have been referred to as to a house on the afternoon of January 29 for a report of “household bother,” Anderson mentioned Sunday.

The officers have been informed the lady was “suicidal” and that she had “indicated that she wished to kill herself and she or he wished to kill her mother,” the deputy chief defined.

The lady tried to flee from officers, Anderson mentioned, and video launched by police reveals an officer chase her and try to offer help.

Afterward, he mentioned, her mom arrived and the physique digital camera video reveals the 2 arguing. Anderson mentioned officers then determined to take away the kid from the scenario and transport her to an space hospital.

However the lady refused to get inside a police car, “thrashed round,” and kicked an officer, knocking his physique digital camera round, in line with Anderson.

“It did not seem as if she was resisting the officers, she was attempting to not be restrained to go to the hospital,” Anderson mentioned. “Because the officers made quite a few makes an attempt to attempt to get her within the automotive, an officer sprayed the younger youngster with OC spray to get her within the automotive.”

The physique digital camera video reveals the lady repeatedly crying out for her father, whereas being bodily restrained by officers. She is seen screaming earlier than her head is held down towards the snow-covered floor and is handcuffed. A battle ensues between the lady and officers as they try to get her contained in the again of a police car.

At one level, one officer says, “You are appearing like a baby.”

“I’m a baby!” the lady responds.

Later within the video, a feminine officer is seen speaking to the lady, finally saying, “That is your final probability, in any other case pepper spray’s moving into your eyeballs.” A couple of minute later, one other officer might be heard saying, “Simply spray her at this level.” The feminine officer is seen shaking a can that seems to be pepper spray and the kid continues to scream.

The officers concerned within the incident weren’t recognized by police, nor have been the kid or her mom.

Anderson mentioned Sunday he was “not making any excuses for what transpired” and that the division is ” a tradition change.” The division is within the means of reviewing many insurance policies and seeking to make adjustments, in line with Anderson.

Mayor Warren mentioned she has directed the chief of police to conduct an entire and thorough investigation of the incident and mentioned she welcomes the evaluate of what occurred by town’s police accountability board.