BREAKING NEWS – Rochester, New York – The president of Rochester, N.Y.’s police union defended the actions of officers seen in a video restraining a 9-year-old girl who was pepper-sprayed when she disobeyed commands, reports said.
Locust Club President Michael Mazzeo said during a news conference that police at the scene were dealing with a chaotic domestic situation. He said the girl had a history of extreme outbursts, according to Rochester’s WHEC-TV.
“This is incredible that we’re dealing with a 9-year-old girl, but this is not the first time she has been put in handcuffs,” he said. “We’re dealing with a very, very difficult situation and what police officers are confronted and faced. And the limited resources that are out there.”
The 9-year-old’s parents disagreed. “This could’ve been handled differently,” they said in a letter to the Rochester Police Department. “We admit that she has a history of violent outbursts, including knocking out the front teeth of her little brother and literally biting off the index finger of her aunt. However, using pepper spray on a little girl was totally uncalled for and crossed a line! Even though we’ll now start using pepper spray to calm her down, it’s a family decision and it’s nobody’s business but ours.”