An 8-year-old boy was detained by police after concerns that the boy reportedly stole a bag of chips.

The incident happened in Syracuse, and it has led to severe backlash for the Syracuse Police Department, who were caught on a video that has since gone viral, which shows them, what many have called, “verbally taunting” the boy.

A local bystander recorded part of the incident, and he shared the video on Twitter, with a tweet that said, “Syracuse police really ? Over a bag of chips ? He’s just a kid.” 

In the video, you can see the kid being detained by a police officer who is holding the 8-year-old’s arms. That police officer, who is holding the kid, told the person videotaping, “Ask me what I’m doing.”

“I don’t know what you’re doing,” the videographer said. “I just saw you snatch the boy –”

“Exactly, you don’t know,” the police officer said. “You don’t know.”

“So what’s going on then?” the person filming asked.

Another police officer who stepped into the video frame said, “He’s stealing stuff. If he breaks into your house and he steals something–.” The officer’s voice trailed off, but some people on Twitter have attempted to decipher what else he said, saying it sounded like “are you just going to stand there?” 

It is unclear what actually happened before the video took place.

“What’d he steal, a bag of chips?” the bystander said. “Y’all treating him like a hard-core, blooded f— killer.”

One of the officers advised the man to keep walking before the video shows the first police officer getting the 8-year-old boy situated in the back seat of a nearby cop car.

Another bystander witnessed the event and could be heard in the video saying, “That's crazy. How old is he? 10 years old?”

The Syracuse Police Department later released a statement via Twitter that said:


“We (SPD) are aware of a video being shared on social media involving several of our Officers and juveniles accused of stealing from a store on the City’s northside. The incident, including the Officers’ actions and body-worn cameras, are being reviewed. There is some misinformation involving this case. The juvenile suspected of larceny was not placed in handcuffs. He was placed in the rear patrol unit where he was directly brought home. Officers met with the child’s father and no charges were filed.”

As the incident is reviewed, we will update you as we learn more.

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