Cameron Sterling, 18, has been charged with raping an eight-year-old boy

The son of Alton Sterling who was shot dead by police in Baton Rouge in 2016 has been charged with raping an eight-year-old boy.

Cameron Sterling, 18, was arrested after the boy's 12-year-old brother confessed to their mother that Sterling had allegedly 'touched' his younger sibling.

Police were called at around 12.30am on December 9, after the incident was reported to authorities and Sterling is currently being held in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Sterling was left alone with the boy and two other children for around 90 minutes before their mother returned home and was informed of what had allegedly happened by her son.

Following this information she questioned the young child who apparently told her that Sterling had performed oral sex on him.

Sterling, who was reportedly arrested on Wednesday, has previously been diagnosed with severe depression and bi-polar disorder, reports the Advocate.

The alleged victim, who had been taken to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital was questioned by authorities.

Sterling's father, Alton Sterling, was shot dead by police in Baton Rouge in 2016

He confirmed to police that he believes Sterling performed oral sex on him and asked the defendant to stop.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in protest at the fatal police shooting of street seller Alton Sterling - just hours after a graphic new video emerged showing the moment cops pinned him to the ground and pulled the trigger.

The graphic footage shows Sterling being thrown to the ground by officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II after they received a complaint about a man making threats with a gun while selling CDs outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in protest at the fatal police shooting of street seller Alton Sterling

The cops are seen yelling at Sterling to 'get on the ground' - but he does not - before he is tackled by the officers.

As Sterling continues to move on the ground, the officer believed to be Lake reaches for his gun and then points it at the father-of-five's chest.

One of the officers then yells: 'He's got a gun! Gun! You f****** move and I swear to God.'

Less than two seconds later, the first shot is heard, followed quickly by another two. Three more shots are heard as the startled shop owner momentarily turns his camera away from the scene.

Protestors place a sign on a car parked in front of Triple S Food Mart where Sterling was killed

As Sterling lies on the ground with blood seeping from his chest, one of the officers leans over and grabs what appears to be a gun from the street seller's pocket. It is not clear whether Sterling was reaching for his gun, but he was not holding it at the time he was shot.

Baton Rouge police Chief Carl Dabadie Jr. later confirmed that Sterling was indeed armed and a witness said they saw one of the officers pull the handgun out of Sterling's pocket as he lay dying, CNN reports. Sterling was legally allowed to carry a gun in public, since Louisiana is an open carry state.

After the deadly incident, police took CCTV footage from the store without the owner's permission, but said they would be handing the video over to investigators.

Some held placards calling police ‘murderers’ and pleaded for justice over Sterling's death.