Family sues New York cops for reportedly handcuffing and interrogating 7 year-old (VIDEO)

GlobalPost

A 7 year-old boy's mother is suing The Bronx, New York police for $250 million, alleging her son was handcuffed and interrogated like a criminal.

Wilson Reyes had been accused of stealing $5 from a schoolmate. The boy's mother, Frances Mendez, claimed he did not take the money, according to the Associated Press

Mendez told the New York Post her son was "interrogated" for hours on Dec. 4.

"My son was crying, `Mommy, it wasn't me! Mommy, it wasn't me!' I never imagined the cops could do that to a child. We're traumatized," Mendez told the AP.

The city dropped the robbery charge against Wilson on Dec. 26, the Post reported.  

The Daily Mail obtained lawsuit documents that claim, "Reyes was handcuffed and verbally, physically and emotionally abused, intimidated, humiliated, embarrassed and defamed."

Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne told ABC News in an emailed statement the allegations against the police were false:

“While the lawyer’s claims are grossly untrue in many respects, including fabrication as to how long the child was held, the matter is nonetheless being reviewed by the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau.”  

Support independent news and 3x your impact!

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. If you’ve been thinking about making a donation, this is the best time to do it. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. All donations between now and June 30 will be matched 2:1. Will you help keep our newsroom on strong footing by giving to The World?