Police Draw Guns After Child Allegedly Takes Toy
"Don't point it at my kids!" This couple was met with police and drawn guns after their four-year-old daughter allegedly took a doll from a dollar store.
Dropping the gun
Phoenix police are being scrutinized after this mother had a gun pointed at her and was arrested after her child allegedly stole a toy from store. Videos of the incident, which circulated more recently on social media, show a pregnant woman—24-year-old Iesha Harper—struggling to obey police orders to leave her car as she holds her two small children. At one point, while the children are still in the vehicle, a police officer can be seen pointing a gun at the car as another yells, “You’re going to fucking get shot.”
According to Ames, the incident started when police approached Ames and Harper after they had parked at their babysitter’s apartment complex. Before the confrontation, someone anonymously called the police to report that the couple’s daughter had stolen a doll from a nearby Family Dollar. The couple believes the daughter took the toy by accident. Ames says in the filing that the officers hadn’t used their lights or sirens before walking over to their parked car and is calling for justice.
In the video that a resident of the apartment complex recorded, an officer can be seen pointing his gun and shouting at Ames and Harper—who are inside the car with their daughters, ages 1 and 4—to get out. In the claim, Ames says that an officer walked to the backseat door but couldn’t open it because it was broken. He adds that the officer then slammed his fist against the window and told Harper to open the door and put her hands up.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has apologized to the family. “I, like many others, am sick over what I have seen in the video depicting Phoenix police interacting with a family,” said Mayor Kate Gallego in a statement posted on Twitter. “It was completely inappropriate and clearly unprofessional,” Gallego added. “There is no situation in which this behavior is ever close to acceptable. As a mother myself, seeing these children placed in such a terrifying situation is beyond upsetting. I am deeply sorry for what this family went through, and I apologize to our community.”
Ames says he believes the mayor’s apology — but will be filing a notice of claim against the city for $10 million for the failed community relations.
Brut.
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Brut
06/17/2019 21:02Dravon Ames and Iesha Harper have filed a notice of claim against the city of Phoenix seeking $10 million in damages. For more on this story: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix-shoplifting-video-brutality-family-files-claim-11312081
Michael W.
06/17/2019 21:04that was not right, it also is not worth 10 million in charges against the city. The fact is that by law the police were doing their job but did it with no sense of common sense or tact. nobody was hurt only feelings and thats not worth money.
Ionut C.
06/17/2019 21:11Yeah right! They ( policeman) will get away with nothing!
ادريس ا.
06/17/2019 21:16I don’t like police at all, but come on pregnant with 4years old baby and stealing 🥴
Sunny A.
06/17/2019 21:17So much hate so much stupidity going on. How many kids take things even without parents noticing. Doesn’t mean you didn’t teach your baby. You grow up learning and a four year old doesn’t have much capacity yet to know much yet to comprehend what the actions against them will be. Shame shame on these officers the way they tried to take action on this situation. Bet if they were white it wouldn’t of turned out the same way. Why is it almost always on the black communities. I hope this family gets the compensation they seek. #ENOUGHISENOUGH
Kaylee N.
06/17/2019 21:22Pointing guns at little kids and a pregnant woman. Feeling like big men, are we?
Parker H.
06/17/2019 21:23Sick of 🚔
Stephen H.
06/17/2019 21:23Yes, wrong in every way & overkill but 10 million? Overkill as well.
Chris C.
06/17/2019 21:24Edwiin o lozano just curious what you find amusing about this clip
Cornelius W.
06/17/2019 21:25Get em in the pockets !!!!
Jolijn N.
06/17/2019 21:26Did the police officer get fired?
Gail M.
06/17/2019 21:26These cops need to be ARRESTED.
Yolanda C.
06/17/2019 21:28These officers need to lay off the coffee!!!!!!
Paul M.
06/17/2019 21:32What if the police by mistake shoot and kill a minor. You think he will be fired in that case ?
Siul Z.
06/17/2019 21:34Protect and serve
Josie C.
06/17/2019 21:36GESTAPO TRAINING
Nick O.
06/17/2019 21:39so much pride in that department.
Mildred B.
06/17/2019 21:41I hate to be that person. But I think there's more to this story. You going to tell me all of this happened over a toy? Sometimes I feel that we're provoking them, and we act like we're the victims. They're only showing us what they want us to see. We need to think for ourselves and not be so quick to judge and believe what we see
James H.
06/17/2019 21:41Nineteenth, all the corporate law enforcement personnel need to be informed that they are operating in a private, for-hire capacity under the Pinkerton Laws and have no special authority or public bonding for what they are doing, that they are working for foreign, for-profit, privately held commercial corporations in a mercenary capacity and are not allowed to bully, harass, enter private property, or charge Americans for any infraction that does not directly impair the US Mail or actually occur on the trains or railroad right of way.
Darren F.
06/17/2019 21:43I see two cops being returned to the job market (after a spell behind bars, hopefully).