According to the New York Daily News, Newark Police mistook Legend Preston, a ten year old fifth grader, for an adult man who was a robbery suspect. The cops had their guns drawn and chased Preston down the street. Neighbors who saw cops chasing Preston formed a human shield around the boy to protect him from police.
Preston was standing outside his home when cops chasing an armed robbery suspect broke off their pursuit and instead decided to chase Legend into an alley behind his house, this according to his family’s account.
Turns out the suspect in question was 20-year-old Casey Joseph Robinson, a six foot tall man with dreads. Yeah, you could see how the police can mistake that description for a ten year old standing outside his home…
Luckily Preston wasn’t harmed physically but the emotional damage inflicted on this kid will not be known for some time. This isn’t anything new. As per usual, how we all cover and consume information like this has a lot to say about who we all are as people.
Click next page to see the sad video Preston’s mom posted to her Facebook page.