DENVER -- Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman is personally investigating allegations of police abuse involving several children -- one only 4 years old, 7NEWS reported Tuesday. All the alleged victims of police abuse Monday night are kids under the age of 14.

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Christopher Harris explains what happened.

7NEWS said the incident started with a report of broken windows and erupted into an angry, ugly confrontation over how the children were being treated by police who answered the call.

Four-year-old Christopher Harris (pictured, right) seemed carefree Tuesday, but Monday night he was cowering in the back of a Denver police car.

"They choked me and throwed me in the car," Harris told 7NEWS.

Christopher, Danny Guerrero and a friend were holding hands as they walked down a street Monday. That's when police swooped down on their neighborhood looking for vandals. For some reason, an officer targeted the 4-year-old, 7NEWS reported.

"So they tried to take him, and I didn't let him go, because I was supposed to be watching him. So they put me in handcuffs," Guerrero, 13, explained.

Guerrero's grandmother arrived just as he was being handcuffed and was told he was going to jail.

"I said, 'Take Danny to jail? For what, for interfering with the police? Interfering with what, because he wouldn't let the baby's hand go?' And the neighbors were sitting right there watching them," said Isabelle Romero.

It was so distressing that one eyewitness started taking down badge numbers of the four police officers involved.

Tuesday, residents in the east Denver neighborhood just south of I-70 said it's not the first time officers have jumped the gun when it comes to their kids.

"It seems if this was a more affluent neighborhood, if this was a white neighborhood, the entire city would be outraged, by children snatched off the street, thrown in police cars, handcuffs," said Karima Zareie.

Her son also got cuffed Monday night. She said it was for no reason. She told 7NEWS the neighborhood is owed an apology and better behavior by police in the future.

Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman told 7NEWS he's personally looking into the situation, but so far, the Denver Police Department has offered no official reaction, the station said.