Video Shows NYPD Detaining Child For Selling Candy in the Subway

The incident occurred in the 145th Street subway station.

Yet another incident involving the NYPD and a child surfaced on social media over the weekend.

On Saturday, a Twitter user posted a video of a small child being apprehended by police for allegedly selling candy on the subway. In the video, onlookers can be heard expressing their disgust with the situation. The boy’s mother can also be heard pleading with the officers. Shaquan Jenkins, who witnessed the altercation in person, spoke with Gothamist over the weekend.

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“They looked like kidnappers,” he said. “Like they were trying to kidnap the little boy. I felt outraged. It’s a little boy. Can’t they talked to him on his level and say it’s not safe, go home? Why did they need three officers to take him to the precinct.”

With the spread of COVID-19 amongst the ranks of the NYPD, many are questioning the department’s priorities. As of Saturday, over 18 percent of the NYPD’s uniformed workforce called out sick with coronavirus. Multiple officers in the video are not wearing protective masks.

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“The video is upsetting,” MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said in a statement. “We have reached out to the NYPD for more information.”

Footage of NYPD officers has gone viral on multiple occasions in just the last few months. On March 5th, a video of cops in Canarsie arresting a young man circulated on social media.