Texas police handcuff child and hold Black family at gunpoint in viral traffic stop: "We made a mistake"

Frisco, Texas - A Black family was wrongfully held at gunpoint by police during a traffic stop after an officer made a mistake while running their license plate, and the interaction has gone viral.

The Fresco Police Department released body cam footage of a Black family being mistakenly held at gunpoint during a traffic stop which has gone viral.
The Fresco Police Department released body cam footage of a Black family being mistakenly held at gunpoint during a traffic stop which has gone viral.  © Collage: Screenshots / YouTube / Frisco Police Department

According to The Dallas Morning News, a family of four from Arkansas were on their way to a basketball tournament in Dallas, Texas, on July 23 when they were pulled over by Frisco Police Department officers.

Prior to the stop, an officer ran the vehicle's plates, but no registration was found, prompting officers to believe the car was stolen.

On Friday, the department released body cam footage of the incident which immediately went viral.

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An officer is seen pointing his firearm at the vehicle while yelling confusing instructions for the female driver to exit and walk backwards towards him.

The driver pleads to the officer that the vehicle belongs to her and that she has proper registration, but to no avail.

"If you reach in that car, you may get shot so be careful. Do not reach in the car," the officer shouts, instructing everyone to put their hands outside the car windows and exit.

Multiple officers arrive, with one proceeding to put her 12-year-old son in handcuffs, who can be heard crying. The woman is heard saying, "Please don't let them do that to my baby, this is very traumatizing."

It took nearly 16 minutes for the authorities to realize that the officer that ran the plates mistakenly searched for registration in Arizona instead of Arkansas.

The department apologized to the family for the mishap, with one officer telling one of the young boys, who is clearly shaken, that it was all "an honest mistake."

Frisco Police Department apologize as the driver shares story

Last week, the driver and mother of the handcuffed teen began sharing her story in a series of TikTok videos about how she and her family have suffered "emotional and psychological trauma," and "seeing this video of my innocent baby has hurt me to my core."

After releasing the body cam footage on Friday, the Fresco Police Department shared a statement which apologized to the family, while at the same time defending the officers' actions.

"We made a mistake," explained Police Chief David Shilson. "Our department will not hide from its mistakes. Instead, we will learn from them. The officer involved quickly accepted responsibility for what happened, which speaks to integrity."

The Fresco Police Department says a comprehensive review of the incident has been initiated, and more information will be revealed upon its completion.

Cover photo: Collage: Screenshots / YouTube / Frisco Police Department

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