*Teshawn Bernard, the Michigan boy, 12, who was wrongfully handcuffed and detained by police for simply taking out the trash, is speaking out about the incident in a new interview, “Good Morning America.”
“When it happened, I was really, like, shocked and frightened about like the situation, and how it happened,” Bernard said of the “traumatic” experience that occurred in Lansing on Thursday, ABC News reports.
“This has been a very traumatic and emotional experience for him and his entire family,” family attorney Rico Neal told “GMA” (see video above).
According to Tashawn’s father, Michael Bernard, his son was taking the trash to the dumpster at their apartment and when he hadn’t returned, the concerned parent looked outside and saw police surrounding the boy.
“I saw police around him, so I dropped what I had in my hand … and rushed downstairs,” Bernard told “GMA.” “So I say, ‘why you have my son in handcuffs? What’s the problem?’”
The incident was captured on cell phone video and shows Tashawn was released moments after police detained him but he was visibly shaken.
According to a statement by the Lansing Police Department shared on social media Friday, the boy was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The child allegedly fit the description of a suspect they were seeking in connection with a string of Kia thefts in the area, according to police.
“Community relations is a top priority for us as a department, from top-down. Our hope is we can put this unfortunate case of ‘wrong place, wrong time’ behind us and continue to represent the community that we serve,” the Aug. 11 statement said, ABC News reports.
Lansing, Michigan, police apologized after officers handcuffed a 12-year-old-boy while he was taking out the trash. Police say he matched the description of a suspected car thief in the area. pic.twitter.com/4Nk9EFcpxp
— CNN (@CNN) August 14, 2023
Lansing Police Department Chief Ellery Sosebee also apologized for the “unfortunate” incident.
“I have reviewed the incident and can confirm the officer who contacted and detained the young man was respectful and professional during his investigation,” Sosebee said.
“As the Chief of Police, I want to apologize that this incident had such an effect on this young man and his family,” Sosebee continued. “I’m asking for the community to consider all the facts of the situation before making a judgment. The relationship with our community has been and will continue to be a top priority for the Lansing Police Department.”
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