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Toddler with hands in air walks up to Fla. cops

The Tallahassee Police released body camera footage of a traffic stop after a video of a toddler walking with her hands up went viral. The video compilation shows a snippet from a witness’ video, along with body camera footage showing the officers’ actions during the traffic stop.

On Thursday, Tallahassee Police officers were called to a Bealls Outlet shoplifting. “Information was received from the store regarding one of the suspects having what appeared to be a gun in their waistband,” a police statement said. “Based on this information, the loss prevention officers did not stop the suspects, but provided officers with a description of the suspects and their vehicle.”

That’s when officers arrived on scene and asked the suspects inside a pickup truck to get out of the car. In the witness video, a toddler is seen walking barefoot with her hands up toward officers with their guns drawn. Police said the child’s actions were unexpected, and she was imitating her parents, who were suspects. Body camera footage showed officers working to get the toddler and her 1-year-old brother safely away from the truck. “Are there any other adults in the car?” the officer asked. “No sir,” the man replied. “Just my 2-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son.”

“C’mon, sweetie, you’re OK,” the officer told the young girl. “Come on over here. Mommy is right here, go to mommy. Put your hands down, you’re fine, sweetie.”

Police said Chad M. Bom and James W. McMullen were charged with the theft.

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