Cop Sees Boy Alone In Public With A Teddy Bear, Then Realizes He’s Trying To Sell It For Food

Recently, a 7-year-old boy was wandering around the busy downtown area of Franklin, OH. He was completely alone, standing in front of a drug store. The only thing he had with him was a teddy bear, clutched in his hand. Officer Steve Dunham was called to the scene. The sight of this poor little boy standing there all alone broke his heart. And then came the crushing truth — the boy told Officer Dunham that he was trying to sell his stuffed teddy bear to get money for food. He hadn’t eaten in several days. Dunham immediately brought the child to a Subway restaurant, then the pair went back to the Franklin Police Department. Durham and the boy said a prayer together and ate dinner at the station. Meanwhile, police investigated the boy’s family and discovered the shocking reality. The boy and his four brothers, ages 11, 12, 15, and 17, lived in absolute squalor. Their home was filthy and filled with rotting garbage. This was no place for one child, let alone five. Now, Durhman and his comrades are bing commended for going above and beyond the call of duty. “[Police] treated them like their own kids, and that’s exactly what law enforcement does in situations like this. How would we want someone to treat our kids?” Police Chief Russ Whitman told WLWT. “Hopefully, these officers’ actions change these kids’ lives and maybe change the lives of the parents to become better parents.” Investigators charged the parents with 10 counts of child endangerment. The 7-year-old boy and his brothers are staying with family members, and for now, the parents are not allowed to make contact with their kids. Officer Dunham says he made a new friend in the little boy. When he returned to check on him later, the two were already laughing and playing. This is what being a public safety officer is all about. If you agree, please SHARE this story with your friends on Facebook. [H/T: WLWT] [video_player]