Nashville's Community Oversight Board is scrutinizing how police handled a late-night curfew stop after video surfaced of a 10-year-old boy in handcuffs downtown around 1 a.m. The child, who appeared to be playing drums for tips with buckets and a milk crate, was detained on suspicion of violating the city's juvenile curfew. Officers later drove him home after his father told police he did not realize the boy had left the house.
Board Saw Footage Before Opening the Case
After reviewing video of the encounter, the Community Oversight Board opened a formal complaint review and began examining department policies on police interactions with children. According to WZTV, board members were told the boy was stopped at about 1:00 a.m. while carrying buckets and a milk crate. The station also reported that, in a briefing to the board, an officer described an MNPD practice of placing anyone who rides in the back of a patrol car in handcuffs.
Board Has Weighed In On Other Youth Cases
This is not the first time the Community Oversight Board has stepped into incidents involving young people and officer conduct. Earlier this year, Metro opened an internal investigation after video showed a 13-year-old handcuffed and detained, and the board launched its own review, according to NewsChannel 5. Board members have also previously raised concerns about access to records and cooperation from MNPD, as noted in city meeting minutes.
Different Rules On Handcuffing Kids In Patrol Cars
Policies on when to restrain juveniles in police vehicles vary across departments, and many agencies spell out extra safeguards when transporting children. Saint Paul’s transport policy, for example, bars officers from transporting juveniles with adults and details specific safety and restraint procedures that oversight bodies frequently point to in policy debates, according to the Saint Paul Police guidelines.
What the Review Could Change
The Community Oversight Board says it will complete its review and may recommend policy updates or clarifications aimed at better protecting children during police encounters. Depending on its findings, the case could lead to administrative follow-up inside the department or broader guidance from Metro officials on how officers handle juvenile curfew and transport situations.
