NEW YORK (AP) - A 7-year-old New York City boy's family has filed a $250 million claim against police and the city after saying he was handcuffed and falsely accused of stealing $5 from a schoolmate.
Wilson Reyes' mother, Frances Mendez, told the New York Post that her son was "interrogated" for 10 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 said.
Wilson's family claimed the boy was falsely accused of stealing $5 that was dropped on the ground and picked up by another student, leading to a physical altercation between him and another child, according to the Post.
That child gave a different account, telling the New York Daily News that Wilson and another boy approached him and both reached into his pocket before Wilson struck him in the face.
The court claim, filed by attorney Jack Yankowitz, said Wilson was handcuffed and held in a room at P.S. X114 in the Bronx for four hours, then taken to a precinct house. He allegedly was held there for six hours and charged with robbery.
Mendez told the Post she initially wasn't allowed to see her son when she went to the station. When she did get to him, she saw that he had been cuffed by one wrist to the wall, and she snapped a photo of him.
"My sister and I started crying when we saw him," Mendez said.
The Post said the city dropped the charge Dec. 26. A spokesman declined to comment.
School officials say it occurred off school grounds. Police had no immediate comment.
The other child involved in the altercation, 9-year-old Seth Acevedo, told the Daily News that Wilson had a history of attacking him.
"Wilson was the worst bully," Seth told the News. "He would call me names. He would punch and kick me. I wish they never took the cuffs off of him."
Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:55 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:55:39 GMT
Sylvania Township police are investigating the third incident of vandalism at Olander Park in the past two months. Firefighters arrived at the park Monday night to see a small building completely engulfed
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 10:11 PM EDT2013-06-19 02:11:45 GMT
Rossford police are asking for your help identifying a pair of suspects. Investigators are looking for two suspects involved in a theft at the True North on Buck Road. Surveillance cameras captured the
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:58 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:58:11 GMT
Up and down Federal Street, pink ribbons are now wrapped around trees, poles and cars. They are a solemn reminder of East Toledo's missing baby girl. 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth was last seen on June
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:51 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:51:49 GMT
Toledo Police are searching for a suspect in an afternoon shooting. It happened just after 3:00 p.m. on Jervis near Bloomfield. Officers tell 13abc a woman called 9-1-1 and told dispatchers someone shot
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:39 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:39:16 GMT
He was born with a condition that limits his sight, but it's not stopping a local 6th grader from competing on a national level. Jalen Ballard is representing Ohio in a national Braille competition.
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:54 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:54:48 GMT
Two young girls were sleeping on the floor during a summer night, when gunshots burst through their apartment, killing one of them. Now one of the men police say was responsible has rejected a plea deal
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:00 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:00:32 GMT
From around 11:01 to 11:05, the International Space Station will fly overhead, initially emerging from the northwestern horizon, then departing to the east. The weather should cooperate, with gradual clearing.
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Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:02 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:02:30 GMT
BREAKING: DETROIT (AP) - Chrysler decides to go along with government request to recall 2.7 million older model Jeeps.
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The search continues for a missing East Toledo girl. In the midst of the search, another missing children's case in our area is getting national attention. The Toledo Blade’s Danielle Trubow has the details.