After the viral video: See dad, Syracuse police talk to boys about respect, stealing, discipline (video)

Syracuse, N.Y. -- A video of Syracuse police stopping an 8-year-old boy over the theft of chips went viral this week, getting national attention and outrage from many people.

After the moment caught in that video, however, something else happened: the father and police officers together took time to talk to the boy and his siblings for more than 15 minutes about the path they were heading down.

That street-side talk was part of body-worn camera footage released in a news conference Thursday morning by Syracuse Police officials and Mayor Ben Walsh. Police officials said while there could be things learned from the encounter many good things happened, calling it community policing 101.

The three officers involved were already very familiar with the three children accused of stealing Doritos just after noon Sunday from the Dollar General on Butternut Street on Syracuse’s North Side.

They had responded to reports of the children stealing and damaging property multiple times in the past, according to officers in the body camera footage.

They knew the children by name and knew their family. After taking the boy home, the three officers -- Officer Matthew Behuniak, Officer David Circiriello and Officer Jacob Kittelberger -- took the time to speak with the father about what happened and to talk to the boys.

They begin speaking with Anthony Weah, the boys’ father, who was visibly frustrated that his children were once again in trouble. He told the officers that he works two shifts late into the night and his wife is sick, making it difficult to give the children the supervision they need.

The father then lectures his boys about not stealing and changing their behavior.

Together the officers and Weah talked to the children to explain the severity of their actions. The officers told the children that they need to be more respectful of their father, the police and the property of others.

Behuniak asked the boys why they choose to lock up their bikes. The boys explained that they don’t want them to be stolen. The officer pointed out that if they don’t like it when people take their things, they should consider that before stealing from others.

Circiriello said that he can see the boys have no respect. Their father agrees with Circiriello, the exasperation clear in his voice.

Behuniak tried to point out to the children that their father works very hard to buy them food and keep them safe.

“Your dad is trying to make a good life for you boys,” Behuniak said, “and you are not really showing him how much you appreciate that.”

Before leaving the family’s home, Kittelberger asked the kids what they think is going to happen when they finally have more severe consequences to face as a result of their actions.

The youngest boy seen in the video -- who was not involved in the original encounter -- answers him by saying “go to jail”. The officers chuckle and point out that the youngest brother should be the role model for the rest of them.

The officers eventually told the father that they will be letting the boys go but “these boys need to be disciplined.”

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Syracuse Police released body camera footage of officers stopping an 8-year-old boy over a stolen bag of chips in Syracuse.  (Provided by Syracuse Police)

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Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.

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