Activists say Minneapolis police asked boy, 13, for DNA

Civil rights leaders need Minneapolis police to cease taking DNA samples from juveniles.

The Unity Neighborhood Mediation Group, a bunch that works with the Minneapolis Police Division to handle citizen issues, says police detained a 13-year-old boy earlier this month and requested him to provide a DNA pattern voluntarily.

Activist AJ Flowers says police didn’t get a warrant, nor did they ask the kid’s dad and mom.

“It is irritating once you inform a teen that their job is to conform and their job is to hearken to the officer at the moment, however but this officer takes benefit of that younger particular person,” Flowers stated.

The MPD says officers had been investigating a report of gunshots at Phelps Park. Activists say the teenager is just too younger to consent to such a request.

In an e mail to the group, Deputy Chief Kathy Waite stated there’s nothing within the MPD coverage handbook that addresses juvenile DNA, and the division must “completely analysis the topic” earlier than implementing a coverage.

Waite additionally says state regulation doesn’t prohibit police from asking juveniles to provide voluntary DNA samples.

MPD spokesperson Howie Padilla says the division is researching how different businesses deal with in search of juvenile DNA.

“We recognize the issues they introduced ahead. All of us want to pay attention to how we’re working with our youth, with our younger folks. And so as soon as we heard about it, completely we will be trying into it,” Padilla stated.