The Canton Police Department in Canton, Ohio, has released an official statement addressing a viral social media video depicting officers confronting and handcuffing a minor on his front porch during a search for a wanted suspect.
The incident took place in the 700 block of Highland Road NE while officers were investigating a series of recent Kia and Hyundai vehicle thefts in the area. According to law enforcement, a K-9 team tracked suspects from WC Henderson Avenue across Lippert Road NE toward Highland Road NE.
Officers stationed along the search path encountered a young minor who they believed matched the description of the primary suspect, 18-year-old Kenneth Moore Jr. Police noted that Moore had active felony warrants, a history of assault, and was suspected to be armed with a firearm.
Home security camera footage of the detention circulated online, prompting scrutiny and outrage. In the video, an officer orders the minor to comply, telling him to put his hands up and using profanity as he directs him into handcuffs. The minor responds that he hasn’t done anything and repeatedly identifies himself as a kid, to which the officer replies that they’ll sort it out and continues securing the restraints.
Police stated that after handcuffing the minor, officers quickly verified he was not involved in the thefts, removed the restraints, and continued their search. Shortly after, officers located Moore hiding behind a home across the street in the 800 block of Highland Road NE and took him into custody.
Canton Police Chief John Gabbard issued a statement acknowledging public concerns while defending the safety protocols officers must navigate in high-stakes operations.
“I expect my officers to communicate professionally and respectfully and our actions should always be guided by our values and our training. It is never our intention to subject innocent bystanders to custody or involve the general public unnecessarily in police operations,” Gabbard said, adding, “this short video clip is currently being shared and commented on without consideration of all the facts the officers had at the time. These facts and the officer’s actions are under review, so I will not comment about this situation specifically, but I will recognize the unfortunate truth that juveniles are increasingly involved in gun violence and our officers frequently encounter kids who are armed. We cannot dismiss an officer’s safety concerns simply because he or she is contacting a juvenile.”
The department confirmed that an internal review into the officers’ conduct and language during the interaction remains ongoing.
