Imprisoned teenager speaks out after viral video

Izaiah Minters, a 14-year-old, was arrested following an argument between several adults following a Pop Warner football game on Oct. 12 at North Valleys High School.

A video of Minters’ detention went viral on social media, garnering thousands of views and raising questions about why a minor was arrested by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.

Minters’ father, Junior Minters, shared the video on Instagram to highlight what he believes was excessive force used against his son. “If you grabbed the person I was fighting with, who was a grown man, what made you leave him alone to grab a smaller person, an adolescent, a minor? That doesn’t make any sense,” Junior Minters said.

News4 reached out to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to clarify why officers arrested the 14-year-old and not the other participant in the altercation.

Although they did not answer this specific question, they did provide a statement regarding the incident.

“Deputies responded to a call for service at North Valleys High School on Saturday, October 12th. When officers arrived, tensions were high as several adults and teenagers were fighting. For the safety of everyone – including the deputies, those fighting and the growing, excited crowd of parents, coaches and other participants – deputies began separating and restraining individuals as they worked to de-escalate the situation and determine what was happening went. The youth, shown in a short video clip circulating online, was released. One adult was arrested, one adult was cited and the investigation is ongoing,” the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office statement said.