An investigation is ongoing in the case of a 9 year old Rochester girl who was pepper sprayed during a mental health episode. Police were called on Friday afternoon after a report that the girl was threatening to harm herself and her mother. The girl resisted being put into a police car to be taken to the hospital, kicking one of the officers. She is seen screaming in bodycam footage before her head is held down against the snow-covered ground and is handcuffed. One of the three officers involved told her she was, “acting like a child,” to which she responded, “I am a child!”
“Later in the video, a female officer is seen talking to the girl, eventually saying, “This is your last chance, otherwise pepper spray’s going in your eyeballs.” About a minute later, another officer can be heard saying, “Just spray her at this point.” The female officer is seen shaking a can that appears to be pepper spray and the child continues to scream.” Officers then pepper sprayed her and left her crying in the back seat as they took her to Rochester General Hospital and soon released.
How do we reform a group of supposed public servants who seem nearly immune to consequences? This isn’t how you treat anyone experiencing a mental health emergency, and especially not a nine year old child. How will this little girl grow up in a world where the people who are supposed to protect her are violent towards her when she needs help?
