Sacramento’s police chief is calling a traffic stop where officers pulled over a pregnant mother and her 8-year-old son in a case of mistaken identity.Kathy Lester spoke with KCRA 3 a day after our original story, where we spoke with the mother, who described the tense moments when she was pulled over on the Capital City Freeway.Police officers pulled over Shanice Stewart and her son on Tuesday. Police said that officers at the time believed inside the car was a teenager who was wanted on felony warrants.When Stewart pulled over, she recalled how guns were pointed at her car and a helicopter was flying above. She listened to instructions and got out of the car, and while she was doing that, she said she could hear her son screaming, pleading with officers not to take her away.Stewart said the entire interaction lasted about 10 minutes.“Ten minutes is a long time,” Stewart said. “I had the fear of him getting out of the car crying and screaming.”Ultimately, police learned that Stewart’s son was not their target. Stewart said officers told her that her son fit the suspect description, which was a similar hair texture and a white shirt. Her son had on football gear.Now, her son is terrified to go on the highway, and Stewart wants a formal apology.”No leader in any organization wants to hear that mistakes have been made,” Lester said, explaining that she wanted to know everything that led up to the traffic stop. “Certainly, the community and our mom have the right to be asking that. We have the same questions. What I can say is that the officers really weren’t able to see in the car, and as soon as they were able to see in the car, they recognized this was not the person they were looking for.”Lester, a mom herself, said she hates the thought of what the boy and his mom went through. She says the officers repeatedly apologized. “I really appreciate the officers for recognizing this was a case of mistaken identity,” Lester said. “I know that was not their intent from what we saw, and while I can say that, it doesn’t bring peace to a mom that was involved in this.”A police captain called Stewart last night to repeat how sorry the department was and how they want to make things right, Lester said. They have offered to bring the mom down to headquarters to explain the circumstances.Even with a formal apology, however, Stewart thinks the damage is already done.
Sacramento’s police chief is calling a traffic stop where officers pulled over a pregnant mother and her 8-year-old son in a case of mistaken identity.
Kathy Lester spoke with KCRA 3 a day after our original story, where we spoke with the mother, who described the tense moments when she was pulled over on the Capital City Freeway.
Police officers pulled over Shanice Stewart and her son on Tuesday. Police said that officers at the time believed inside the car was a teenager who was wanted on felony warrants.
When Stewart pulled over, she recalled how guns were pointed at her car and a helicopter was flying above. She listened to instructions and got out of the car, and while she was doing that, she said she could hear her son screaming, pleading with officers not to take her away.
Stewart said the entire interaction lasted about 10 minutes.
“Ten minutes is a long time,” Stewart said. “I had the fear of him getting out of the car crying and screaming.”
Ultimately, police learned that Stewart’s son was not their target. Stewart said officers told her that her son fit the suspect description, which was a similar hair texture and a white shirt. Her son had on football gear.
Now, her son is terrified to go on the highway, and Stewart wants a formal apology.
“No leader in any organization wants to hear that mistakes have been made,” Lester said, explaining that she wanted to know everything that led up to the traffic stop. “Certainly, the community and our mom have the right to be asking that. We have the same questions. What I can say is that the officers really weren’t able to see in the car, and as soon as they were able to see in the car, they recognized this was not the person they were looking for.”
Lester, a mom herself, said she hates the thought of what the boy and his mom went through. She says the officers repeatedly apologized.
“I really appreciate the officers for recognizing this was a case of mistaken identity,” Lester said. “I know that was not their intent from what we saw, and while I can say that, it doesn’t bring peace to a mom that was involved in this.”
A police captain called Stewart last night to repeat how sorry the department was and how they want to make things right, Lester said. They have offered to bring the mom down to headquarters to explain the circumstances.
Even with a formal apology, however, Stewart thinks the damage is already done.
Read More: Sacramento police chief reacts to traumatic traffic stop for pregnant mother, 8-year-old son
