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Cops Help Find Lost Teddy Bear After Receiving Frantic 911 Call from Boy with Autism

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When the Woodbridge Township Police Department received an unexpected phone call from an autistic 12-year-old, it could have been easy to dismiss the child.

The call didn’t allege any sort of horrible crime taking place, and it didn’t deal with an assault or a robbery or a murder.

Instead, Ryan Paul had a different kind of problem: He’d misplaced his teddy bear and wanted help finding it, according to ABC News.

“My teddy bear fell down again. Don’t worry I’ll rescue you again. Goodbye again. See you again,” Ryan said during the call, Tribune Media Wire reported.

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The operator could’ve easily dismissed it as a prank. Instead, though, the call got passed to Officer Khari Manzini, who’d received training POAC Autism Services.

As part of the department’s policy, Manzini responded to the hangup call.



“Whenever we can use that training to make sure that not only do we keep ourselves safe, but those folks that we’re helping out safe,” Manzini said. “You know, it makes a great difference.”

When the officer appeared at the door, Ryan’s shocked father, Bob, asked, “Ryan, did you call 911?” Ryan admitted that he had, explaining, “Teddy bear rescue.”


https://youtu.be/BpH-FnfNT80

According to Insider, that was exactly what Manzini did. He and Ryan searched the boy’s room for the lost bear.

Eventually, they found the stuffed toy that slid down beside Ryan’s bed.

“He just couldn’t have been more accommodating or understanding,” Paul said. “It was really great.”

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However, Paul made sure to explain to his son afterward that a missing toy didn’t constitute an emergency.

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A graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in literature, Loren also adores language. He has served as assistant editor for Plugged In magazine and copy editor for Wildlife Photographic magazine.
A graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in literature, Loren also adores language. He has served as assistant editor for Plugged In magazine and copy editor for Wildlife Photographic magazine. Most days find him crafting copy for corporate and small-business clients, but he also occasionally indulges in creative writing. His short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies and magazines. Loren currently lives in south Florida with his wife and three children.
Education
Wheaton College
Location
Florida
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Entertainment, Faith, Travel




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