Concerns about racial disparities in U.S. policing have been widely debated for years, with studies, officials, and community advocates continuing to examine whether Black Americans are disproportionately affected during law-enforcement encounters. With this backdrop in mind, a viral video now circulating online centers on a group of Riverside County officers detaining a young Black student in California as he was riding his scooter, an incident that has prompted allegations and debate over what occurred.
The teenager’s mother recorded the incident as it unfolded, and the footage has since sparked strong reactions online. As the video begins, the mother can be heard describing the scene while standing outside the police cruiser where her son has been detained. “Now this is crazy. Don’t tell me to calm down. I know what kind of kid I have. He’s an honor roll student.” exclaims the mom, as a sheriff rifles through the kid’s backpack. She asks where his scooter is, and the Sheriff calmly explains that it’s “right over there.”
Moments later, the Sheriff reveals that his partner has confirmed to him that the suspect “has an afro,” which means that “it’s not him.” The mom is still not pleased, and repeats that her son is an honor roll student and is “top tier.” Going further, she explains, “I’m in my pyjamas to come here. Just let him out. I know he’s probably all shaken up. Come out, baby.” The police officer says that they have to investigate it, hands the son’s phone to the mother, and the teen exits out of the back of the police cruiser.
With handcuffs on, and his hands behind his back, the mother becomes emotional at the sight of her son who has been wrongly detained by the police. “Really? Really? Like really? I don’t like this. No, no, no. No, it’s not okay. He’s never been arrested in his life. No, don’t tell me to calm down.” The deputy reveals his name to the mother, and gives her his ID number. With frustration in her voice, she states, “He can’t even go out own his scooter.”
As the footage continues to make the rounds online, social media users have flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the wrongful detainment. On Reddit, one person wrote, “Arrested just for being black, Judge McSpadden in Houston calls this [expletive] out all the time.” while another chimed in with, “I like seeing a Mom stand up for their kids the right way. She’s no Karen. I appreciate her documenting him and getting badge numbers but they any investigation by them will immediately justify it as “fitting the description blah blah investigating a crime blah blah best interest of public safety [sic]”.
Meanwhile, on Instagram, one netizen penned, “I am so happy to see someone speaking on the horrible police and racism in riverside!! 💯👏 thank you!!” A fourth comment read, “And these are the sheriffs who work for Chad Bianco if you think they’re bad imagine the person they take orders from“.
