A toddler copied her parents after they were detained by police.
She climbed out of a pickup truck barefoot and walked with her hands in the air as she approached armed officers.
The footage showed police officers with their guns raised towards the vehicle as a man walked toward them arms raised. Another man followed with his arms also raised.
Tallahassee Police arrested shoplifting suspects James W. McMullen and Chad M. Bom in a parking lot outside a department store in Florida. They were armed with rifles and pistols due to reports the suspects were armed.
The 2-year-old child then jumped out of the truck with no socks or shoes on and walked toward the police who kept their guns raised.
The incident was recorded by a passer-by who caused a stir online and prompted the police to release two body cam clips that show they worked to get the child and a younger one to their mother.
Police also said they were heavily armed because staff at the store who reported the suspects said they had weapons. Police found a pellet gun in the back of the truck.
“She’s trying to get out but she can’t because she’s little,” said the person recording the scene. “She is out. Oh, she’s holding her hands up. Oh my God, look at that. Oh my God.”
“They’re still holding the gun at the baby,” one viewer said. The other replied: “No, they’re holding the gun at the car.”
Police officers were surprised when the toddler jumped out of the truck. They asked their detainee if there are any other adults in the vehicle and the man replied: “No sir. Just my 2-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son.”
The second video showed the mother taking the second child from the pickup truck.
“The body camera footage shows the officers’ concern for the children and their compassion as they permitted the mother to care for the children,” DeLeo said.
“The mom, who is a suspect, asks an officer to hold her 2-year-old as she retrieves the infant from a car seat.”
“I am proud of how officers handled the situation, how they adapted when they became aware of the children, the level of concern and compassion they showed to the family.”
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