13-Year-Old Detained by Police During Mistaken Identity Incident in New Jersey Deli

Incident raises concerns about use of force and police accountability after boy was physically restrained despite not matching suspect description.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A 13-year-old boy was taken down and detained by police officers inside a deli in East Orange, New Jersey on Friday afternoon. Surveillance video shows the officers grabbing the boy, who was buying a shirt, and forcibly restraining him despite his mother's claims that he did not match the description of the suspect they were seeking. The boy's family is now calling for an investigation and accountability from the officers involved.

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about police use of force, especially when it involves minors, and the need for better training and accountability measures to prevent wrongful detentions and escalations. It also raises questions about how police communicate with the public and respond to situations that may involve mistaken identities.

The details

According to the report, the incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Friday inside the Jenny Deli and Grocery in East Orange. Police were conducting a firearm investigation and encountered the 13-year-old boy, Alkyair Williams, inside the store. Surveillance video shows an officer grabbing Alkyair and forcing him to the ground, with additional officers arriving shortly after. Alkyair's mother, Amirah, says police told her they were looking for a man in his 20s with dreadlocks and visible tattoos, which Alkyair does not match. Amirah claims the officers would not identify themselves or explain the situation, and she was initially not allowed inside the store. Alkyair says he is now traumatized by the incident and does not want to go outside or to school anymore.

  • The incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2026 inside the Jenny Deli and Grocery in East Orange, New Jersey.

The players

Alkyair Williams

A 13-year-old boy who was detained by police inside the deli despite not matching the description of the suspect they were seeking.

Amirah Williams

The mother of Alkyair Williams, who is calling for an investigation and accountability from the officers involved in the incident.

Newark Police Division

The police department that was working on a joint firearm investigation with federal law enforcement and had officers present during the incident in East Orange.

East Orange Police

The local police department that Alkyair's family reached out to about the incident, which was then reported to the Newark Police Division.

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What they’re saying

“I'm trying to see why y'all got my son right here? He said, mistaken identity. I said mistaken identity for who? For who? He said, a 22-year-old with dreads and visible tattoos. I said look at my son, do he look like he 22? Do he have visible tattoos? He don't even have dreads.”

— Amirah Williams, Mother of Alkyair Williams

“I just want them to take accountability. I want apologies. They wouldn't even give me their name, not their badges. They got in their cars and drove off like nothing ever happened.”

— Amirah Williams, Mother of Alkyair Williams

“I got PTSD from it. I don't want to go outside no more. Me, me, I'm a normal kid that just go outside, that want to hang with their friends. No. That ain't me no more. I don't want to go to school no more.”

— Alkyair Williams

What’s next

The Newark Police Division's Office of Professional Standards has initiated an internal investigation into the incident. Alkyair's family has also reached out to the East Orange Police about what happened.

The takeaway

This troubling incident highlights the need for better police training, communication, and accountability measures to prevent wrongful detentions, especially of minors. It also underscores the lasting trauma that can result from overly aggressive police tactics, even in cases of mistaken identity.