It was clear that police thought she was a problem.
The 9-year-old girl was not complying with police orders. Already handcuffed, she would not swing her legs into the back of the police car. She complained about a bad arm. She kept calling for her dad. She was unable to stop sobbing. Rochester, N.Y., police officers, who had responded to a domestic disturbance at the girl’s home, were getting frustrated.
One of the police officers scolded the little girl for “acting like a child.”
“I am a child,” the girl yelled back. Moments later, he pepper-sprayed her.
Video of the child’s detainment, which occurred Friday afternoon, provoked protests in the streets of Rochester on Monday and drew outrage from many who watched the body-camera footage. On Twitter, “She’s 9” began trending, with the vast majority of tweets expressing horror — but not necessarily surprise — that a 9-year-old girl would be treated that way by law enforcement. By Monday night, Rochester city officials announced that the police officers seen in the footage have been suspended until an internal police investigation is completed.