A Newark mom remains horrified after her 10-year-old son was chased by officers who had their guns drawn believing he was a suspect in an armed robbery.
According to WABC, Legend Preston was playing basketball when the ball rolled into the street. The fifth-grader went after the ball, and began being chased by officers. Legend told the news station that he was being chased because he ran into the street without looking.
“I was scared for my life,” Legend said. “I was thinking that they were going to shoot me.”
Newark police acknowledged that the officers did have their guns drawn, but denied that they pointed them at the 10-year-old in an alley.
Witnesses at the scene intervened. “‘Why are y’all chasing him? Y’all got guns out here drawn, y’all chasing him, he’s only a kid.’ I’m like, ‘That’s messed up,’” one witness, Jackie Kelly, said.
Police responded by saying the child “fit the description” of 20-year-old Casey Joseph Robinson, who has dreadlocks and facial hair compared to Legend’s short cut and bare face. Robinson was captured on the next block.
Legend’s mom, Patisha Preston, uploaded a video to her Facebook page showing how upset her child was following the encounter, which occurred earlier this month.
“I knew I had to get some type of documentation,” Solomon said. “With these police we have to have our batteries fully charged because you never know what’s going on.”
Under the video she wrote: “My son is in counselling [sic] even scared to go play because it happened right at our house…You despicable cops have no care for our childten [sic]… My fun loving child is forever changed!!!”
According to WABC, police say that internal affairs is investigating the case.
