Grand Rapids, MI — Local police in Grand Rapids, Michigan recently handcuffed Honestie Hodges, an 11-year old Black girl who had just walked out of her home. She was reportedly held at gunpoint because police say they were looking for 40-year old white woman who had been suspected in a stabbing. The question that many are asking is: How can a young Black girl be confused with an older white female?
“It made me feel scared and it made me feel like I did something wrong,” Honestie told a local news TV station. Naturally confused, Honestie thought she had done something wrong and was being arrested.
Her mom says that while sitting in the back of the cruiser, she began banging on the windows and screaming, “Please don’t let them take me.”
In response to what happened, the Grand Rapids Police Department has released a statement saying:
“Once onscene, officers determined that the suspect fled the residence still armed with the knife, Their investigation led to a second Westside Grand Rapids home where it was believed the suspect may have fled to. As officers were setting up a perimeter, three females simultaneously exited the home, two adults and one 11 year old juvenile.
Until it could be determined that the individuals were not the suspect, nor armed with a weapon, the three were ordered back to officers and detained. The homeowner gave consent to search the home, and it was deemed that none of the three individuals that exited the home were the suspect officers were searching for nor was the suspect in the home. The females were subsequently released.”
Meanwhile, Honestie is now terrified of police. She told reporters, “I’m afraid to open or go near my back door… because of what happened. I wanted to be a detective or police officer, but now I don’t want anything to do with those kind of things.”
Watch the video below of Honestie being handcuffed: