Sacramento police on Wednesday released officer body camera video that shows the boy struggling and apparently spitting on one of the officers.
Police say they spotted the boy running away from a security guard and helped detain him last month. The video shows officers working to calm the boy, who repeatedly curses and shouts that he can't breathe.
Officers were confronted by bystanders who videotaped the encounter while objecting that the boy was being detained.
Police Chief Daniel Hahn says officers used the mask to protect themselves and no one was hurt.
The boy was later released to his mother and cited for battery against an officer and resisting police.