Good. Oh, I got mama. >> Come on, baby. >> You're good. >> You're good. >> Every second counts when a child's life is on the line. But what happens when the police find these children in the most risky situations imaginable that only a heroic act could save them from? >> Hi, baby. She's drooling. >> I got him. I got him. Go front. Go to the front. >> These were the moments when hero cops rescued kids just in time. [music] Starting with the case of a mother and her baby's ordinary trip to Walmart, which turned into a scary crisis. What happened next was an urgent attempt from the police to save the baby's life. >> Peeking his mouth. See if there's anything obstructing my airway. I didn't see anything. Come on, baby. >> You're good. >> You're good. >> I was breastfeeding a stop breathing. >> On January 11th, 2025, the police were called to respond to an incident inside a supermarket. Upon arriving, the officer was met by a group of desperate people gathered around an unconscious baby. >> What's going on? No, baby, >> huh? Trying to breathe. >> All right. Okay. Okay. >> Hold this. Hold. Hold the baby. Hold the baby. David dispatch if you can have FD respond to Walmart. >> We've got a baby that's uh a breathing baby. >> Uh 300 please. >> Let me see. >> There was no time to be wasted at that moment. The officer immediately began performing back blows on the infant. As he worked, the mother explained what was going on until she noticed her child wasn't breathing. The procedure took a moment, but the baby was too quiet the whole time. picking his mouth. See if there's anything obstructing the airway. I didn't see anything. Was >> he breathing? >> Was he Was he Was he eating? >> Was he eating? >> She was breastfeeding. >> Apply to bare skin. >> You might just as Okay. Come on. Come on. It's okay. It's okay. Yes, you got it. >> Come on, baby. >> Come on, baby. You're good. >> You're good. >> Yeah, he's breathing. He's breathing. I can feel him breathing. Come on, baby. You got it. >> Breathe. >> You got it, baby. Come on, Jameson. He's got the hiccups. >> He's got the hiccups. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Although the baby was breathing again, the officer wasn't done yet. He knew that wasn't enough and he needed another confirmation to know everything was truly clear. >> Hi. >> Can I take anything? >> Hi. >> You sure? >> Thank you so much. >> I know. Just burp. Come on. Come on. Come on. >> Oh my god. >> Thank you. >> You have no idea. >> I'm not supposed to be able to have a baby. I don't know what you want. David, can you repeat? >> Oh, did he just burn? >> Almost. >> You got it. >> Okay, here. Sorry. He's breathing. >> He's breathing very, very well. >> He's breathing. >> Can you come and meet me up there? Follow us, baby. >> It'll just take a minute cuz I have to get off. >> You got it, baby. You got burp for me. Burp, >> baby. You guys are baby. >> Hey, honey. You're >> going to burp. You're going to burp. Come on. B for me. >> Oh my god. Look for me. >> You okay, honey? >> He's got the hiccups for sure. >> Sorry, Angel. >> He's got the hiccups for sure. He's sleeping now. >> Is he breathing? He is very good. He's breathing a lot better now. >> But he did have abnal bleeding big time. But >> Jameson is his name. >> This is mom right here. >> Grandma, what happened? >> I was breastfeeding him and he stopped breathing. >> Okay. Did he spit up at all or anything like that? >> No. >> He's got he's he actually >> I didn't do CPR. I just I just actually disped his back. I didn't >> I think that lady right there. >> Here's the spot. >> Let's go in the ambulance. The squad's here. Follow him. Come with me. >> In the end, baby Jameson got better thanks to the officer's heroic help. Next, a car flipped on a busy highway and ejected a woman from the vehicle and pinned a baby somewhere beneath the wreckage. [music] What happened in the next few minutes would determine whether the officers could rescue that child or not. Good. Oh, wait. I'll just check this. Come on. On October 23rd, 2025, officers responded to a flipped car on a highway. When they arrived, the scene was chaotic, but without hesitation, the officers alongside witnesses who had stopped to help worked together to lift the overturned vehicle and pull an unconscious baby from underneath it. >> It's under the under here. We need to move the car. >> We need to get my car. >> There's a I think the baby's under. >> Keep moving. Keep moving. Keep moving. >> Oh my god. >> With the baby now out from under the vehicle, it became clear that the situation was still critical and every second counted. So the officer immediately dropped to his knees and began performing CPR, doing everything in his power to bring her back. CPR, >> come on. Come on. Come on. Roll her over. Get out of her mouth. >> She has a pulse. >> She breathing though. [sighs] Mater. [panting] >> Come on. I think I feel her breath. I feel her breathing shut that way. >> There it is. Come on, baby. Keep keep working on. Show us around. Okay. Come on, mama. Come on. There you go, mama. There you go. There you go. There you go, mama. Oh, >> yeah. There you go. ETA on that star, please. There you go. There you go. There you go. >> Are you before or after cooking? [screaming] >> Here you go, mama. >> Yes. There you go. >> Cry. >> Yes. >> Yes. [screaming] >> Cry, please. >> Stop it. When we got here, she was under. >> In the end, the baby and the mother got into stable condition and were expected to make a full recovery. [music] Next, a child was left completely alone in a car parked outside a supermarket on a very hot day. By the time officers arrived, the window to save that child was rapidly closing. Do [crying and laughter] >> we have 94? >> No, they're not rolling yet. Okay, we're going to Let's see if we >> We're going to find mommy. Okay, >> go ahead and put your hands behind our backyard under us. Oh, >> child child endangerment. It's way too hot. It's irresponsible. >> On November 2nd, 2025, officers responded to a call reporting a child trapped inside a vehicle in a supermarket parking lot. When they arrived, the sound of the baby's desperate cries told officers everything they needed to know about how little time they had. >> What do you want? >> She's on this side. So, let's break this one. >> It's okay. >> I got this for now. And if we need to go heavier, I'll go heavier. >> It's okay. >> I tried reaching in. We can't get in through there. So, >> it's okay. It's okay. >> Hold on. I got close. >> Troll 20, we're going to be uh forcing the tree into the vehicle to get the kid. >> It's okay. >> Yep. Anybody in the way? >> No. >> Do we have 94? >> Yeah. >> No, they're not rolling yet. >> Hi, baby. She's drooling. You want me to hold her? >> No, I got her. I got >> With no time to waste, the officer rushed the child inside a nearby restaurant, using the air conditioning to bring her temperature down. At first, the little girl was distressed and overheated. But once she got stable, they returned to the parking lot where a witness confirmed what they already suspected. This child had not been left there by casualty. >> I'm gonna take the juvenile over to to Borrow to get her cooled off. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, she's all right. We're just going to get some air conditioning for a minute, right? Yeah. You doing better now, >> Mommy? We're going to find mommy. Okay. >> Okay. We're going to Let's see if we We're going to find mommy. Okay. You don't want to You don't want to go in there. You don't want to sit there. We'll just We'll just sit right here. >> Gotcha. Uh I took photos and stuff like that. Um >> see if they can page the owner of >> They are. >> Okay. >> I told them I said, "Hey, just uh don't give off any information. Just say like, "Hey, the owner, can they come out and check on their car cuz the alarm's going off?" >> I'm thinking 42 hours >> 100%. >> Yeah. This is unacceptable. >> Yeah. Cracking the window like she's a dog. >> Right. >> It's disgusting. >> I went when I went to I'm on the call. When I went to lunch, >> I was like, at first I was like, who needs a purse? And >> dude, I'm telling you, thank you. >> I was like, who? But also like >> she's drooling from her mouth and her nose right now, so she's got heat exhaustion. >> I was like, who is a purse in the front seat? And I was like, none of my business. And I looked I see I was like I see Moon in the back. I was like, there's no way to >> Right. And at first I thought she was like three and I didn't want to stare too hard and then get recorded for like, hey, you're looking at someone's car and somebody in the back seat for all >> but then realized it was off. >> When officers finally located the mother, what they found was a woman named Jessica calmly pushing a shopping cart full of groceries, showing no concern for the child she had left behind in a burning hot car. >> Is it a black Honda your car? Yeah. >> With a little girl in the back. >> With your girl in the back seat? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, go ahead and place your hands behind your backyard under us. Oh. Child child endangerment. It's way too hot. It's irresponsible. Is there somebody we can call that can be responsible for her so we don't have to turn her over to TPS? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Someone sober that can drive and not going to leave her in a car. Anybody? Do you know anybody that can do that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Hey, so she was left in [music] a car for an undetermined amount of time. I just wanted to get her checked real quick cuz it's still pretty warm out. I tried cooling her down and the AC on. No, car's been off. >> So, mom was in there long enough to shop for [crying] a cart of groceries. So, >> um um >> Mom's in custody right now with us. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Okay. [crying] >> Because >> Yeah. >> It's okay. >> Hello, >> Junior. I'm sorry, Junior. I need you to come to the Walmart on Reway. I'm being arrested. >> For what? >> Leaving the baby in the car. Can you come get her? Can you come get her, please? Jessica, >> I know. >> Okay, I'll be there in a few. Greenway and where >> green? >> The Walmart market on Greenway and Rams. >> All right, hold on. >> Okay. >> What made the scene even harder to watch was that Jessica was acting completely apathetic about her daughter's situation while the little girl was still crying out for her. But when officers got the child's father on the phone, his reaction to his own child's well-being wasn't that different. >> It's okay. I know. >> It's okay, Mommy. I know, baby. >> My I'll tight car. >> Hey, this is Officer Holian with Surprise Police Department. If you wish to know anything about your daughter or anything like that, you can also give us a call at our non-emergency number and ask to speak to Officer Holian and I can give you the updates on that. >> Okay. So, my daughter is going with her brother, right? >> So, it's just the daughter. Uh but she's going to be going with uh brother. Yeah. >> Okay. And then so anything about her? How does that work? She go to jail. I get her partner out or how does that work? >> She'll be probably released on own recgnissance later, probably with a court date and stuff. So, she probably won't even need to be bailed, but she will need a car uh to pick her up. >> Okay, sounds good. >> All right. >> Her vehicle is uh is there a tower? What's going on? >> No, it's private property, so we're going to turn the keys over to brother um if he's here and stuff. Uh we did break the back window and stuff. Uh but uh the kid is being checked out by fire now. She's she seems to be okay. She's a little bit dehydrated and a little bit exhausted from the heat, but uh she should be all right. >> Yep. Bye. >> As officers waited for the supermarket to pull up the security footage, the question of how long that child had been trapped inside that car lingered. The footage would eventually provide answers, but one look at Jessica's full shopping cart already gave them a clue. Besides, a witness also had something interesting to add to that. >> She was in there for a while. Quite a bit of shopping. >> Hey, do you guys mind getting a time stamp of when she entered? Yeah, I'll go look right now. >> Cool. Thank you. >> Did he give Did this Jordan kid give an ETA? >> Uh, no. Uh, I'll give him a call back. I'm getting them They're going to get a time stamp right now for when she entered the store, so we have a time delay. >> Okay. >> No, no, uh, water or anything like that for her in there. >> Nothing. >> Okay. No, you did everything right, man. Uh, appreciate you. >> I don't know if you need the time stamp or nothing, but it was 12:29. >> 12:29 is when she came into the store. Okay. But when she w and I caught her, the cameras caught her going in. I don't know if she went anywhere else. We can't see all the other, >> but that's when she entered into Walmart. >> Walmart 29. >> I don't know. I don't remember what time she >> Oh, actually, it's she was in there still for about 26. >> Yeah, it was still more than more than enough time. Um, so entered at 12:29. Perfect. Cool. Thank you very much, man. >> No, you did the right thing. So, you saved a life today, dude. In the end, the child was sent to the hospital for treatment and was expected to recover soon, while Jessica was taken into custody and charged with neglect and endangerment. [music] In the next case, two children were trapped inside a burning apartment. The only way for the officers to reach [music] them was to run straight into the smoke. >> 19, Tom, we need water. Go, go, go. Come on, baby. Come on. On February 18th, 2022, police officers responded to an apartment in flames. The moment they arrived, the scene was already out of control [music] with panicked residents scrambling outside. But amid the confusion, officers received an alarming piece of information. Two children were still inside, close to where the fire was burning the hardest. Is anybody else in there? >> Who else is in there? >> Huh? >> There's kids >> in this one. Is this connected? >> I don't know. >> I have no idea. >> What about in the back? >> Where's he at? They're in the back room. >> 19. >> I'm being told that there's kids inside. They're in the back room of apartment. >> Finding the children was only half the battle. The room where they were trapped was on the second floor with no straightforward way to reach them from the outside. Meanwhile, smoke was already pouring into the room, and every second that passed made the situation more desperate. We got people back here. Come to the window. Come. Come to the window. >> Is there people stuck in there? >> Do we have a ladder or anything? >> No, I don't have a ladder. Are they spraying fire? >> Uh, the kids are in here. Get a ladder. >> Hey, there's some wood on this side. >> No, I need a ladder. >> Then, in the middle of all the chaos, something unexpected happened. A bystander took it upon himself to act, climbing up to the second floor without hesitation and forcing his way into the smoke filled room. The moment he made his way back to the window with the child, it was time for the officer to help. >> Wealth is in the room with her. Come on. Pull it. Frame. >> Pull it out. >> Come on. >> Tell him to come to the window. >> Come here, kid. Come here. Come on. Hey, >> 19. Oh, fire. We need uh water in this window. We got kids. over >> Johnny 19. Tell them we need water in this for this west window. We got babies. >> Give it to me. >> Give it to me. >> Give it to me. I got her. I got her. >> Go, go, go, go, go. Come on, baby. Come on. >> Who else is up there? Okay. >> Where's your sister? Nothing. >> I'm going to go front. >> I might have caught her. >> That's okay. >> With the first child now out and receiving urgent medical attention, there was no time to breathe. There was still another child inside that room and the fire was continuing to spread with every passing moment. >> They're leaving. Fire. >> She from the room. >> Unconscious. >> No. I need a medic. >> Over here. >> Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Is that It's okay, baby. It's okay, baby. It's okay, baby. It's okay, baby. >> It's okay, baby. It's okay, baby. >> Okay, baby. Wait, someone's coping. Here's someone coughing. >> Hey, do you guys have a mask? >> Is there another kid? >> Is there another kid in there? >> There's not. Hey, come here, boss. >> Come towards me. You got a kid. Get out. There's a kid in here. There's a kid in here. >> Come out here. Come out here. Let's go. >> No. No. No. No. No. >> Hey, come here. Let me see. Let me see. Give me the baby. >> It's okay. It's okay. Get on out. >> 56 and I got the girl out. Male is now coming out as well. Get on out, boss. >> Here. Here. It's okay. >> In the end, the two children, the officers, and the bystander were sent to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and were [music] released after. Moving on to the next case. A woman and two young children were being held hostage by two armed men inside an apartment. What began as a family crisis [music] would quickly escalate into something far more dangerous. >> Come here, buddy. I got you. I got you. >> Drop the gun. Drop the gun. >> Get in there. We got to go. >> Hand them off. Hand them off. >> Come here, buddy. >> I got you. >> On August 11th, 2025 [music] in Morehead, a woman had called for help from inside an apartment where she was being held hostage with her two young children. At [music] first, the first officers who tried to enter the apartment were brutally greeted. So, the SWAT team had to enter the scene. You shot goal [ __ ] [ __ ] >> Drop the gun. >> Drop the gun. Get in there. We got to go. >> Push through it. >> Push through it. Watch your muscles. Push through it. Seat belt and push through. Push through. >> In the middle of the confrontation, officers pushed deeper into the apartment. The apartment told its own story. Signs of struggle everywhere. No way to know what was waiting around the next corner. But through all of it, they kept moving forward. And then, amid all the chaos, they found something. We're coming with you, >> Anderson. First, >> drop the gun. Drop the gun. >> We got kids in there. We got to go. >> No. Left side. Watch your muscles. Push through it. Stay. Push through. Push through. >> Last guy. Take the guy behind the door. >> I got this guy right here. >> I'm with you. I'm with you. I'm with you. >> Two bingos. I need you upstairs. >> Where are the bingos? Let's get them out. Let's get them out. Take them back. Back up. >> Come here, buddy. >> I got you. I got you. >> Close your eyes. Close your eyes. >> I got one. >> And there was one that got taken out of here. >> Two bingos. >> Where are the bingos? >> Let's get them out. Let's get them out. Back up. Back up. >> Here. Hand them off. Hand them off. Come here, buddy. I got you. I got you. >> Don't look, buddy. Don't look, buddy. You're good. We got you though. We got you. Help you. Are you hurt? Are you scared? Okay. We got you, man. What's your name? Have somebody double check you. Okay. Bingo. Bingo. Not injured. Get here, buddy. >> You said you're not hurt? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You okay? >> I'm going to double check you. Okay. >> I just have a disease. >> You just have a disease? What kind of disease you got, bud? >> I got pimples on me. >> You got pimples on you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. For right now, you're doing okay? >> Mhm. >> Do you need anything? No. >> Oh, okay. >> At that point, both children were safe, but the work [music] wasn't done yet. After everything that had unfolded that night, officers weren't taking any chances until every corner of that space had been searched. >> Let's Let's take a bang. >> Take a breath. >> Let me grab it. Cover it. [music] Here we go. Figure that's how it would work. Closet's clear. Closet's clear. >> Yeah. >> See who's in this room behind you is clear. Completely clear. >> We're going to the living room if you're good with that. Look everywhere. Everywhere. >> Want to flip this [ __ ] >> Found the brother. >> There's We've got two down. >> Two down. >> Yep. I'm I'm ready for you. It's clear. Clear. >> Was it one kid? >> Was it one kid? >> I didn't see. I just asked for. >> In the end, the woman and the two children were rescued and safe. The two gunmen were neutralized by the SWAT. Next, officers and firefighters responded to a house fire with a child still trapped inside, [music] and what unfolded in the next few minutes pushed everyone on that scene to their absolute limit. >> Hello, police. >> Anyone in there, buddy? Come on. >> Watch out. [music] >> Floor to your right. Floor to your right. >> I got him. I got him. Go. To the front. back here. >> On June 19th, 2022, officers responded to a house fire with a child still inside. The officer managed to get to a window that could serve as an escape route, but the fire was already raging all around, putting his own life at risk. >> 707 is fully engulfed. I can't get in. There's a three-year-old in back bedroom. >> Information about a child. Can you tell us what mobile? >> With reinforcements now on scene, officers intensified their efforts to reach the child, but the situation inside the room was deteriorating fast and the child was struggling to find the way out. >> Where is the kid? Where is the kid? >> Back bedroom. I tried to smash out the window. Is he good? >> No. Hey kid, are you in here? Hello from PD station. >> Hello. Police. >> Anyone in there, buddy? Come on, man. >> Come on, man. >> What's the kid's name? >> MJ. >> MJ. MJ, can you hear me? MJ, come on, buddy. >> MJ, it's the police. >> It's okay, buddy. Come on. >> MJ, can I Oh, hey, MJ. Come here. Come on, buddy. >> MJ, it's okay, buddy. Come on. >> MJ, this way. MJ. >> MJ, come on. >> MJ, come here. Would you lift me up? >> MJ. Hey, you're right here, buddy. Buddy, you're right there. Yeah. >> Back up. >> Did you get him? >> He's right here. >> Is he down or what? >> He's right there. He's laying down. Come on. Come here. Come, buddy. Take your belt off. Take him out. Somebody rip out the rest of this window. >> Go for it. Watch out. Break it. Break it. Watch out. >> Hold up. >> You're going to do it. Do it now. >> Come on. We got to lift this. Get the mic. The mic. >> Time was running out and the smoke was thickening. Then a firefighter arrived and made a critical move. He pushed into the smoke filled room to locate the child. At that point, every second was crucial. >> He's right in the >> right there. Right there to your right. >> We got it here. Watch the top. Watch the top. >> Give him light. Give him light to your right. Floor to your right. Down to the right. His name's MJ. >> MJ. MJ. >> All right, buddy. Come here, buddy. >> I don't know where he went. >> I heard him. He's trying to get him right now. >> Get up there. Get up there. Hop. Get up there. >> I got him. I got him. I got him. Got him. I got him. I got him. Go front. Go. three-year-old this way. >> Watch your hose. Watch your hoes. >> You okay, MJ buddy? Yeah, he's crying. >> You're okay, Andre? You're doing good, buddy. >> Stop. Stop. So, we can go forward. >> He was just crying. >> Let them. the middle. >> Clear out. >> Yep. His name's MJ. Michael James or something like that. 3 years old. He's in the back bedroom. >> Back bedroom. >> Get another rig. I got a lady next door on her. >> That counts for everybody, right? >> In that one. Yeah. But the other one was on fire, too. Are they in there? >> Y. >> In the end, MJ was taken to a hospital for treatment and was [music] in stable condition. Next up, two parents were caught disciplining their child in a shocking manner. [music] What the officers found there were two children who needed to be saved from that nightmare. >> Cuz we got him back in the house and he kind of was just kind of until he calmed down. Where did you >> Okay. Not going good. >> If he was doing throwing rocks on the street, well, how would you handle that? He would be on the face planet on the ground. On November 3rd, 2024, [music] the police responded to a report of a couple physically abusing their young child. When the officers arrived at the family's home, what they walked into was quite disturbing. >> Sheriff's office. >> I'm at the front door. >> Okay. What's going on? >> Our kid is having a having a breakdown. >> Okay. When officers asked the parents to explain what had happened, they were quick to paint their son as the problem. What stood out was that despite all of this, they had never once called for help themselves. Something about the family's behavior didn't sit right with the officer and apparently neither with the neighbors. >> See, he was outside the car at the house. >> So, it was us getting him back in the house cuz he was to run down out the house. >> Okay. Who called? Do we know? >> I don't So, you guys didn't call? >> You guys, >> did you call? >> We didn't call cuz we got back in the house and we kind of was just counting until you calm down. >> We're just checking since >> Let me go see if I can make contact with the RV. Are you good here? >> What's up? >> How's it going? >> Good. Trying to find the RP right now. So, apparently uh there's a minor child in here, I guess, that somebody observed outside. Apparently, dad held him down and was beating out of him. We get here, dad does have him down on the ground in the living room. Dad's pouring sweat. Mom and dad and somebody else in this house advised that child has behavioral issues. Was out here throwing rock. However, I'm trying to find the RP. I'm assuming it's a neighbor to find out exactly what they saw. Nobody want to talk to the popo today. The more the officer looked into it, the more he suspected the call had come from someone inside the home itself. Then his attention turned to the two young children inside the house. If anyone knew what was really happening behind closed doors in that family, it was them. >> I have a feeling somebody in here called and they're not. They're afraid to say they did call cuz I swear the notes said they'd call her advice. She's they're beating her brother. Her dad's beating the >> I can't like get a hold of like it's ringing now. Hey, can I talk to him? >> So, kids has been unruly multiple times. They said we've been here beforehand multiple times. Dad stated that he even threw a rock out his window today. >> Where is it? >> Let me let you know. It's his truck. >> Did you see him? >> I'm about to go over there and check. Okay. >> He's been unruly all day because >> according to Candy, that's what the parents said. He wanted candy. He's been acting out the entire day like this. >> The problem is I don't know if I can talk to her alone because she's a minor. Okay. Hey, listen. and I have to ask you some very important questions and I need you to tell me the truth without being afraid. Mom and dad are not with you right now. They're over here and I just got off the phone with your friend. Okay? And I need to know the truth. >> I need you to go get that kid and bring him out for Lopez. He needs to come out to my car right now. These kids are probably going to get JR6 out of here. Okay. Okay. Cuz there's a lot more going on here. Yeah. Here. Here's what's going on. Okay. Are you okay? All right. You're going to be okay. All right. Just take a He's going to be okay. Here's why. I'm going to take him out right now and I have an ambulance coming. I want them to look at him in private. And I also, if you're okay, can they just look at you and talk to you for a minute? Okay. Listen to me. I don't want you to be afraid. Okay? That's no way to live. It's going to be okay. I'm going to do my job today to make sure that you're okay. You understand that? Okay. Just take a breath. You're fine. Your brother's going to be okay. >> Hey, young man. Can you come over here, please? I want you to stand right here. How you doing? Here. Look at me. Turn towards me here. Go ahead. Stand right here by your sister. Okay. How you doing? You okay? Not doing good. Are you do you have some injuries? Your wrist hurts. So your sister's worried about you. Okay. >> You want to sit in here with your sister? Are you able to scoot over for him or do you want me I can actually I can bring him to that side. Okay. >> I just have seat right in there for a minute. >> So as soon as they get here, you're going to go in the back of an ambulance. You're not leaving. your sister will go with you and they're just going to check you out and ask you about your >> All right, hang in there. >> When officers turned their attention to the mother, she immediately wanted to know who had reported them. And she doubled down on the same story that it was hard to keep her son under control. But as it became clear that the officers weren't convinced by her explanation, the mother's composure began to crack. >> This is ridiculous. You looked at him. He's there's nothing wrong with him. >> Well, the the issue is not about that. The issue is about what I'm hearing from multiple. That's what I have a problem with. >> Okay. Well, that's not what I'm hearing. So, I have to do my investigation. Okay. I have a job to do. Okay. I have a due diligence to make sure the children are okay. >> Children, all right. >> What's that? >> You're hearing it all from children? >> Doesn't matter. >> It It kind of [laughter] does not matter. >> The older child that you're hearing it from, has she said that she's gotten >> Did I say that's who I'm hearing it from? >> Have you Has she But you're saying it from someone who doesn't live here? No. Either. Well, if you're saying >> it's either the person who you talk to, we're done with the conversation. >> And we are done. You like the other guy who was here before are making this problem as payments. >> It's making you feel that's fine. I have a job to do to make sure that you feel in the back of his car from that. Then you're also betraying me. >> Doesn't it doesn't >> if if he's capable of doing that type of >> Do you not understand the capabilities of him doing other stuff? >> What I don't understand is there's a way to handle it and not a way to handle it. Okay. >> What's your way? If he was doing throwing rocks on the street, how would you handle that? He would be on the face planting on the ground. >> Absolutely not. >> Shut. >> Okay. Why don't you go inside before you get arrested? Okay. Why don't you go inside before you get arrested? You don't me with that. >> Sir, you should take her in before she ends up getting hooked up. What >> the I want to say on that. >> I'm going to charge you with disorderly conduct. >> America, right? >> All right. She's getting hooked for doc. >> What? >> I'm going to hook her. Yes, there is. 100%. Do >> all day, dude. [laughter] That's do. I'm not playing this [ __ ] If your kid threw rocks, you'd face plant them on the ground. Absolutely no I wouldn't. Absolutely not. Disagree 100%. I got four kids. Never face planted any of them on the ground. >> A DFC agent arrived on scene and the officer took the opportunity to walk him through everything. But the more the officer laid it all out, the clearer it became that what was happening inside that home went well beyond a simple disciplinary controversy. >> Hello. >> Hey, how's it going, sir? Pretty good. >> Thanks for coming out. Here's what's going on. Um, mom is very I rate by the way. She's out here calling us names, being very aggressive and violent outside. I told her husband to take her in before she goes to jail, which between you and me, they're both going to jail as soon as you leave with the kids. >> Okay. >> Grandma's in route. She's about 30 minutes out. She's willing to work with you to bring them up to clean. Yeah. She's got a little apartment there. It's a little small, but she said, "I'll make it work for them." Okay. And that's going to be biological mom's mother. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um we >> we can tell her to stay at home and we could just run her information and I could bring the kids up to her. >> I could do that. Do you want me to I'll call her in? This nice gentleman here is going to make sure you guys safely get there. That way she doesn't have to drive down. Okay. >> She's probably >> Yeah. Hi, my name's Mr. Whis. >> Oh, here. Let me get glitchy. >> I'm sorry. >> No, you're okay. My issue is I have to do my due diligence because him and her both have a cooperating story. They were separated. >> Yeah. They were seen medically like some medical >> an EMS came here. They said if you want them to come back to the hospital, that's fine. >> No, once they were checked. Yeah, they they were checked and cleared by Twinsburg EMS paramedics. Okay, so we did that. He said a couple little minor bruises on the arm and some scratches, you know, things of that nature. >> When the mother spoke with the DFC officer, whatever composure she had left completely disappeared, making it impossible to have any kind of reasonable conversation. At that point, the officers had seen enough. >> Giving him what he wanted. This is what I was trying to avoid with all of y'all. >> I would I'm not signing up and not saying nothing. and do whatever the y'all want to >> world [laughter] child [ __ ] You stupid. >> All right, go ahead and hook her up. Let's just hook her up now. >> We're going to just hook her now, >> ma'am. No, >> she you Okay. >> No. >> Okay. Go ahead. Do me a favor. Turn around. Put your hands behind her. Don't Don't resist. I'm not resist. >> Don't resist. >> Don't resist. It's okay. >> What are you going? >> All right. Grab Do Gra, please. >> For what? >> You exactly. >> No. I want you to explain. >> You did exactly what the he wanted y'all to do. You want a grandma? >> And I'm I want numbers. >> I want everybody's dad's number. I'm going to call my lawyer and I'm getting everyone. >> What does that say about your charges? >> You guys are both being arrested for domestic violence and child abuse right now. Okay. >> For what? On what? On what grounds? Based off of what children said >> through my investigation. Okay. That's all that's all that's all you need to know. >> What did you find? >> Okay. >> So now you're me you're mad at me because I called you a wife beater. Okay. I I don't know what that means, but Okay. >> Hey, can you put the can you put the kids in your car? >> I was trying to avoid like right here right now >> in front of my goddamn >> We couldn't unfortunately this had to happen. We couldn't do that because >> this whole thing started because my son was mad about candy. >> You understand? >> We were talking calmly and now now they have to >> tired of this. This has been a long time for this. >> Yeah, I can I can leave. I can leave. I've got everything. >> Okay. Yeah, you're fine. >> I'm just trying to avoid Right. Yeah. Well, I know. But you see how we couldn't wait. >> Oh, no. >> Because of the way she, you know, and I didn't want her to go back in and she was getting wild up there by you. I just I don't want you to be at risk and nurse her, you know. I mean, I'm sure you can handle my priority is them. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Come on. It's okay. It's okay. They're fine. Okay. You guys are good. You're going to go to grandma's and hang out for a little bit. Okay. Everything will be all right. >> Straight from here to grandma's. Okay. Okay. >> In the end, both parents were arrested on charges of domestic violence and neglect. Next, a mother and her two young children were stranded in [music] the desert for nine hours. When officers finally reached them, what they discovered went far beyond a simple roadside emergency. >> Hi guys, >> we got stuck and my phone wouldn't call. >> This may be a CPS. They shouldn't be out here. >> It took like 8 hours to call 911. It wouldn't call. >> On July 20th, 2023, officers responded to a report of a woman stranded in the desert alongside two young children. What officers found when they arrived raised questions that a simple breakdown couldn't answer. >> I am approximately 200 yards west of Granite Dells, past the turnoff for the Cypress Trail. I'm hearing what sounds like a child crying to the northwest. I'm on foot. Got Hi. >> Hey, you called 911, huh? >> Okay. Hi guys. >> We got stuck. Okay. And my phone went cold. >> We got you though. >> For 9 hours. [crying] >> Do you feel like you can walk? If the answer is no, it's okay. >> I can walk. Can't carry one. Somebody and walk. >> All right. I tell you what I'm going to do. You're not far from my vehicle. I'm going to go back and I'm going to bring fire. Do you mind drinking after me? >> No. >> Sipping for the kids. Not chugging. Right. >> I'm going to be right back. Okay, guys. I'll be right back. All right, ma'am. I'm going to hurry. Okay. The circumstances surrounding the woman and the children raised more questions than answers. What had initially appeared to be a simple breakdown in the desert was starting to look like something much more complicated. [screaming] >> So, we'll come back for her and the other child. >> Okay. >> Yeah. This may be a CPS. They should be out here. >> I I don't disagree. >> Do you want me up there to guide them or do you want me to just wait here? >> Cuz I need to direct the engine into where we're at. >> That's fine. I'll stand up there and I'll walk I'll walk them. >> Okay. >> Can they make it? No, I'll just have them all transport to the road. >> Sure, they can make it to where I am. Hey, she's clearly disregarding the kids safety. It looks like they were trying to drive a car back there that they shouldn't have been taken out there. It got stuck. She She was outside of the car. Both kids were in only uh underweares and she's awake, but clearly has some heat exposure. So, I'll go out there. I'll follow behind. I'm going to run her plate. I'm going to see if I can get her ID and find out what is she camping, staying out for a joy ride or what. >> Yeah, she's camping. >> Okay. So then she's got the tech all her stuff started. >> Her car is high centered and stuff. She's leaking fluid. She's got a flat tire. I asked her and she says >> yes. We were setting up camp. >> Fair enough. Been 100 for weeks and we have a high heat. There were a warning that came out this morning to everyone in the Hill County band. >> That's what I told her. She wanted to stay. I said, "No, you need to come out." And she get >> She wanted to stay. >> Yeah. She's like, "Well, yeah." She says, "Well, I'm good." I mean, she wasn't adamant, but it was still to the point I said >> 911 was I'm going to pass out. >> Yeah. She said she was on the verge of passing out. >> And I didn't hear her call for help. It was the kid crying. >> While it seemed the mother was cooperating with officers, something about the way she was interacting with her children made the police concerned. >> I heard I heard the baby crying from up here. >> My tracking system was not that good. >> They have very loud cries, that's for sure. >> And I'm thankful for Rick there. He told me to check this area. So, I don't know if I would have heard you guys. Were you guys camping or were you trying to drive through? Well, we were >> Or both? >> Yeah, both. We were going to camp. >> I kept getting stuck, so I was trying to back up to go forward. >> Sure. But >> All right, man. You Are you ready? >> Did you guys run out of water or just got too tired to get to it? >> Um, I mean, I had we had water in case. Like I said, they were drinking it. >> Okay. >> I let them have it. I wasn't drinking it, so, you know, I was getting >> I got you. Careful. Watch your footing here. I'm just going to walk alongside you. >> Okay. But I just got stuck and we ran out and I was like, it's too far to walk with them. >> How long have you been stuck? Yeah, >> it took like 8 hours to call 911. It wouldn't call. >> Uh yeah, you're lucky you got through it all. I'll be behind you just in case. >> How do they look? >> They look okay, but until we get checked out, they they can look okay for a long time in the >> Exactly. Okay. We're going to be pursuing it, but for right now, I don't want to get in the way of her agreeing to all their care. >> We're going to try to convince her to go to the hospital. >> Please and thank you. If she says no, I think we have grounds to push it. Obviously, >> we'll just solidify the with the kids and hey, they've been out here a while. pitch can they cough at a long time. We want to make sure that dehydration because little little kidneys don't function, you know, they they can take a hit. So, we'll get him to the hospital. >> I might be mixing it up, but didn't there used to be a saying with kids like compensate, compensate, crash or something like that? >> That's exactly that's exactly what it is. >> And the other side to that too is is we give her less medical advice if she doesn't follow it. >> I'm right here. I won't interfere. I'll let you guys talk. You guys are way better at that than I am. But if you need me to do something else, all you got to do is look at me and wave me over. All right. And I I can believe spotty service out there. >> But again, 8 hours of water for a camping trip. >> So, is this a camping trip or is this a homeless trip? That was one of the questions. >> My I would lean towards the homeless. But regardless, even if we're going best case scenario, she said both. We're out for a drive and we're camping and there was a campsite park set up. She didn't have enough water period. So, I like I said, I won't push this if I don't have to right now. If she'll agree to all the medical care, I'll talk to Joan. We'll figure out what we're going to do because I don't want to cause any roadblocks to the kids getting cared. The moment the officers and medical staff sat down with the mother to discuss the children's safety, a completely different side of her emerged. >> I'm going to go back in the woods. I was just actually calling the scenes so get us. I don't want to take them out to get my car. >> Well, I just didn't know if we needed something to get >> crazy. I had a car room the other night. Last night we stayed with one of our friends. I'm just waiting cuz I was in the living room. >> I know. There is nothing here like as far as today goes. I just wanted to make sure that we had a plan >> that I knew you guys were going somewhere safe, you know. I was just trying to >> Could you let me know if you can and then cuz I'd like to do that plan from here. I appreciate that. >> Do you guys have any like freaking out hungry? They let you know when they're hungry. But if there's like they have like fruit juices and stuff and can they eat the hat and everything? >> So I I guess you're aware there's like some questions about like your home situation and social concerns. I talked to Dr. >> They get some more answers for what? Um, just in regards to getting a safe safe, >> I mean, they're always safe. They're never unsafe. I don't really want them staying in the hospital. >> So, my concern is that we don't have a safe, especially like in the desert. >> We don't live in the desert and they're always safe. I make sure they're safe. We're safe. I don't take them anywhere shady or weird or >> So, the problem is you're homeless, so you don't have a set room. I'm not saying the evidence that you have sometimes and I get it safe like it's not the difference between a car and a motor home actually. Okay. It's actually not safe. >> I mean you don't sleep. Are you forcing them? You try them right now. >> That's not okay. I'm not I'm not trying to be difficult solution going forever. >> Yeah, we're going to work out one, but I think this is the same. >> We're going to have some language from the morning and come up with a plan for this. >> You're pretty much telling me that you're taking my kids. >> If you want to escalate it to that point for I don't want to. >> No, I'm not saying that. I'm just saying. >> So, but he's trying to find every solution to try and get around that. Basically, what's happening here? He's bending over backwards to trying to make sure it doesn't happen. >> No, I'm not arguing or disputing it. I'm just trying to understand. >> Sure. >> So, here's a concern, right? I'm a doctor. I take care of the kid. >> If I have a kid brought in and I'm concerned that there's not like a safe home situation, homeless and you have a safe place to go, then I have to consider whether or not it's safe to discharge. In this case, we don't have a home. I talked to like DCS or previous know the details of those. Yeah. My concern from my perspective and from a legal perspective is I have to make sure that there's a safety thing and right now I don't have one. So legally I can't let you talk. So >> that was one of the options but it sounds like that's not an option. They've been trying to find one but >> I know because I have four kids who are like >> something like that. >> Oh yeah. >> But I can tell you we've been trying to find nontraditional solutions. have been trying to fight everything we can. We're not trying to jump to the most horrible solution possible. I can promise you that you don't have any reason to believe what I'm saying, but I I promise you people are trying to bend over backwards to try to figure out something here. Okay. >> No, I believe you're sincere. I just >> And it's probably a lot to process, but this is a safe place. It's got air conditioning. It's got food. >> Okay. They they get that, too. I don't ever have them in a safe place, >> right? And so, >> nobody's accusing you of trying to arm your children. >> I don't think that you are of this. I just want to make sure that we get because I I'll be honest, I just don't think it's a great solution to just say, "Okay, they're fine. >> You can go and we still you know what I mean?" >> So >> assuming they're going, which is the best, >> right? More than welcome to stay with them in the hospital. >> We're just going to have other people weigh in and keep them here for a little while. Okay. >> A little while. >> Probably overnight. >> Okay. And then tomorrow you'll >> So tomorrow it will be it'll be Dr. Hunt. She's very nice. She's a mobile teacher. She'll sound like you know her. She's going to come in and she'll see them and she'll talk with me. >> Okay. Thanks. Okay. >> Hi. >> Hi. Come over here. Come over here. >> Okay. Thanks. >> So, take it for this. Take it for for one night. Okay. And you're going to talk to some folks. Maybe they do a single whatever. And they go from there. Okay. No one's snatching them kids away. What they want to do is make sure they're safe. Okay. >> After weighing everything they had uncovered, officers reached their conclusion. It was time to make it clear to the mother that the way she was living with her two children was nothing but problematic and she would have to face the consequences for that. >> Hi, Tiffany. >> Hi. >> Come on. Stand up for me. >> Why? >> Cuz you put her arrest. >> Why? >> Put your hand back. >> Why? >> Why child? >> Because you place your children in danger. >> No, I didn't. So, we'll discuss that later, but right now we're going Okay, we're coming. Turn left. >> We're going this way, Tiffany. We'll discuss [laughter] it in a minute. Right now, we're going to the car so you know we're not here in front of folks. [crying] >> Okay. I want you to turn your face to my vehicle for me. Don't touch it. It's hot. Okay. Stop right here. Thank you. Switch your feet apart. Do you have any weapons on you? No. Do you have anything on that's going to poke me, stick me, cut me, make me bleed, make me sick? Nothing. >> All right. Thank you. Bring your hands away from your back for me. Thank you. Are you wearing underwear bra? >> I'm wearing a rock. >> Okay. Is there anything inside of it? >> No. >> Okay. I'm going to tell you this part cuz I have to tell everyone. Okay. >> Okay. >> If you bring anything in my vehicle or in the jail that I did not find, any weapons, any even that's legal, you can catch a felony. Do you understand that? >> Yes. >> So, nothing like that is on you. >> I don't have anything. >> Okay. We're going to come sit here and then we'll talk. Now turn around. Back in there. Okay. >> Nice and easy. Watch your head. >> Okay. Back in there. >> Put your feet in. Now listen. Based on the totality of circumstances, all the evidence presented to us, the condition the kids were found in and where they were found. We're putting place under arrest for child with regard to the condition they were in and what they were exposed to. You don't have to agree with that. Okay? You're going to see a judge and the kids are going to be safe. >> You will be communicated with. Okay. >> Okay. What I want you to do, even though you're probably at a 10 out of 10 on stress right now, and that's understandable, and that's okay. >> Yeah. >> Breathe. Okay. >> I don't know. My kids >> understand. And then we're not And I'm not saying we're there, but this is we're going right now. >> I know. >> What I want you to do for me is try to breathe in for a bit. Okay. I got to close the door for a second. All right. >> Thank you. I'm sorry. I can't hear you. What? >> So, listen. We're going to take it a step at a time. We're going to We're not leaving town. We're going right here across the street. You're going to get booked in. They're going to ask you a bunch of questions for processing purposes. Okay. The jail staff will not ask you questions about crimes. Okay. >> All right. You will see a judge. Now, tomorrow's Friday, so I'm assuming that means 1 in the afternoon, but we'll confirm with them cuz they know better than me. Okay. >> Not tonight. No, your kids are going to be safe. Okay. You've got people from probably four different agencies bending over backwards to trying to make sure your kids are safe. Okay. in jail. >> Who has you concerned? Just jail in general? >> They don't need to know what's going on. They're not going to say, "Oh my gosh, what's your what's your papers?" Like, you're in county or in prison. Okay? This is just a holding area. This is not what you see on TV. This is a place you sleep until they get you in to see a judge. That's it. >> Always fell down completely. Listen, I get being in a hard place, but right now, this is where we're at. Okay? So, focus. Listen to what they say. Remember, the jail staff does not make any decisions with regard to charging. Okay? And we'll take it a step at a time, okay? Careful. This is going to try and trip you. Watch your feet. Get your feet out first. >> In the end, the woman was charged with two counts of abuse. In this next case, a man was at people in broad daylight while carrying his own baby son in his arms. What officers had to do in that moment to save that child was the kind of decision no officer ever wants to face. [music] >> Running around with a gun here. We need somebody. He's beating up on his old lady. >> He's trying to shoot [music] fire. He's shooting it. Ma'am, hurry up. He's trying to kill people. >> Drop the gun, dude. >> 511. He has a kid. >> On January 9th, 2021, Phoenix police officers were dispatched to a hotel after callers reported that a man, Paulo Balden, was involved in a violent argument with a woman. At first, it appeared to be a domestic dispute, but within minutes, the situation escalated dramatically. New calls came in warning that Paulo was firing and was now holding a baby hostage, instantly turning a routine response into a life-threatening emergency. We've got an Iight guest of another guest here chasing running around with a gun here. We need somebody. He's beating up on his old lady. >> Van Beurren, >> hurry up. Where is your emergency? Hurry up. Van Beurren 7th Avenue. My husband just took my baby. He has a gun. He's loaded. He took the baby. He's trying to kill him. He's shooting fire. He's shooting it. Ma'am, hurry up. He's trying to shoot. He's going to kill people. He's on 7th Avenue. He just sat down in front. He's shooting us. He got my son. He stole my son. >> Paulo Balden then returned to the hotel now armed. As he moved through the area, panic spread among bystanders. Moments later, he stopped in front of a drive-thru, creating even more fear as people realized the danger was no longer confined to the hotel. >> Phoenix 911. What is the address of your emergency? >> I'm on 7th Avenue and Grand McDonald's in the drive-thru. There's this black man that stopped a white car and he has a gun and he has a baby in his arms. >> Okay. Is he pointing the gun at somebody? >> Yes, he's Yes, [music] he's pointing at the gun at some I guess somebody's in the white car. He stopped the white car in the street and he has a baby in his arms and he has a gun. >> They're in the drive-thru. He's standing outside of a car holding a baby and pointing the gun at somebody. >> Yes, he is shooting. He's shooting right now. >> Drop the gun, dude. >> 511. He has a kid hostage right now. He has a gun. He has made one gunshot already. We need more units. Block off all traffic. Get a black male with a child. >> At this point, the situation escalated rapidly. Paulo refused to surrender the child, leaving the officers with no choice but to intervene. The tension reached its peak when he raised the gun and aimed it at his hostage. >> I got more unit coming. >> They're on the way. >> Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. No. Get the kid. Get the kid. Come here, buddy. Come on, buddy. Come on. Come on. I got the kid. I got the kid. Hi buddy. Hi buddy. >> Hi buddy. Are you okay? >> Hi B. >> I know. >> In the end, the confrontation ended with Paulo Balden being killed by police during the exchange of gunfire. Next case, what started as a noise complaint from concerned neighbors quickly turned into something far [music] darker. When officers stepped inside a couple's house, they found a child living in unbelievable conditions. You can sort this out or you're going to choose to have the door broken down. >> Everybody is okay. >> No, it's not. >> Look at my joint. My joint broken. >> I have a lot of concerns with this apartment. It's not conducive for a child. On August 11th, 2024, officers received a call from concerned neighbors reporting a couple arguing inside an apartment, drawing attention due to the intensity of the shouting. The couple already had a history of domestic disturbances. When officers arrived, they faced immediate difficulty gaining access as the woman's boyfriend refused to allow any contact with them. >> Police department. >> I knock on one, two. >> No answer. >> No answer. >> Someone's inside. >> Uh, police department, man. >> You good? >> No, we need to talk to you. >> Yeah, we got to talk to you. >> I'm good. You have a warrant. That's how it works. >> Yeah. Come outside, but I just got to talk to you. We're not going to come inside. You can step outside and talk to us. >> Y'all can talk to the door if you want, >> sir. We just want to talk to you. >> I don't want to talk though. >> Okay. Are you in there with anybody else? That's what we're ask. Y'all can go away. >> Are you by yourself? >> I don't want to talk. You know what that mean? I don't want to talk. >> Are you by yourself? >> I don't want to talk, brother. I'm not going to respond no more. Okay. Y to the dog if you want. >> So, we got to report for a domestic disturbance. We have to make contact with the parties to make sure everybody's okay. Everybody's okay. Stop talking over me. >> Not from here. I didn't call you. >> It doesn't have to be from you. It could be from a neighbor. >> We have to make sure that here. So, goodbye. Have a good day. >> Yeah. >> There we go. >> Was the kid? >> No. Just screaming and yelling. Banging. >> They trying to come in. >> We're We're going to come in and talk to us. >> You got to talk to us. >> We are coming in. You're making this a lot harder than it has to be, man. >> As hard as you want. Nobody's doing >> Come outside. >> You got the wrong apartment. >> Okay, then open the door and then we can go away. If we can ID and nothing's going on, we're out of here. But if you don't, >> I'm not leaving the alone. >> Open the door. >> Let the other adult come outside cuz I know you're not by yourself. >> That's her, my [ __ ] You talking to me? >> All right. Can I >> come outside either? She's bailing her son. >> Can I speak to her, please? >> She don't want to talk to you. >> Why don't you let her decide that? She just told me that. >> The thing is, we have to speak to you or we have to come in. >> Hey, you have to do whatever I can do. You have to stay out there all you want. Break down the door if you have to. >> That's what it's going to come down to. And we don't want to have to do that. >> People can't. >> No, it's actually not. We have to make contact to make sure everybody's okay. >> The man refused to let officers inside. As they tried to [music] negotiate, concern quickly escalated. The sound of a child crying could be heard from within. Clearly distressed. With no time to waste, officers were left with no choice but to act, even if it meant using [music] force. >> Ma'am, can I speak to you? also. >> So guys, we're giving you a choice here. You can choose to open the door and talk to us so we can sort this out, or you're going to choose to have the door broken down. You can make a good decision, or you can choose to have us use force to enter, which could result in somebody's injury. It could result in your poor child being terrified, which none of us want to do. We got a report of an argument, possibly a domestic. If we can confirm everybody's fine, we're out of here. But if you're going to interfere like this, it only gives credence to the fact that something went on and we have to check on your safety and welfare. So, this is your choice. >> Bathroom is going to be like right here where the kid is. >> Sir, this is the last opportunity you have to open the door. We're going to open it. >> It's going to be high, too. Thank you. >> Okay. No, he's second. >> Yeah, he's okay. He's fine. He's in a battle. Why would you guys leave the door? >> You had a lot of opportunity. >> Wait. >> All you had to do was open the door. Don't pull your hands away from me. >> I didn't do anything. >> Wait. And if you open the door, we >> I didn't do anything. That's fine. Y'all doing whatever you're not doing. Nobody's doing anything. She's telling you that you're herself up. And she told you. >> Why would you guys come inside my door? Naked. Relax. >> My kid is naked. Yep. My house to ensure everyone's wellbeing. >> Everybody is okay. Everybody >> excuse me. Excuse me. >> Once inside the home, the situation only became even more complicated. Officers were met by the baby's mother, who within seconds showed aggression toward them. When questioned about why she hadn't come outside to speak with officers, her responses were uncooperative, lost in her anger. >> Everything is going to be okay. >> All they had to do was open the door. We explain it to you repeatedly. >> Okay. My door's broken down. Can somebody come in? Somebody is not going to hurt me. Ma'am, >> no. It's not ma'am. You broke the mouth >> cuz you had to come to the door. We explained it repeatedly. >> We had him repeatedly. >> Calm down. >> No. Stop. Broken my door. My door broken. Somebody want to pick up my army. They can't break. >> Get your ID now. >> I'm not getting nothing. I'm not getting >> You're going to jail. You're trying to go DCF. >> He going to DCF. ID. I don't know where it is. >> I don't know where it is. >> Find it now. >> I don't know where it is. >> Find it now. >> I don't know where it is. >> Y'all have to cal down, bro. Like y we're coming down. >> You're yelling at her. She couldn't even hear y'all. She's bathing my son. And I told y'all that. >> No. >> Let's walk this way. We'll come right into the stairs. >> So she can calm down. >> Okay. I know. We're going to come right into the stairs. >> Stuff all over the counter. >> Calm down. I don't know. I need your >> I don't care. Don't do nothing. Okay. If the police were at my door, I would come to the door and answer. >> You guys just broke into my house. I'm bathing my kids. You could not take a second to have the other guy watch your kid while you came to the door to say, "Hey, nothing's going on here to come to my door." >> We had a call about a domestic disturbance. >> Okay. Did you guys hear anything when you came to the door? >> We came to the door. The guy refused to answer the door. That explains that something could be going on. When we don't get a response from you after speaking to the mail, we fear that something's wrong. The baby's crying. We hear you talking. You could have came to the door and spoken to us, but you allowed your boyfriend or husband or whatever to continue to play the games that he was playing when you could have came to the door. We need to make sure everybody is safe. Bottom line, we're doing our jobs. Can you please tell me what was going on? >> Nothing was going on. We was just having an argument. >> That would have been an easy conversation to have in the hallway. >> See what I mean? So, right then and there, it confirms that you guys were involved in some sort of disturbance. I'm not saying it was fiscal. You're already saying that it was a verbal argument. We don't know what's going on inside. Had you came to the door and spoken to us, you could have clarified it for us. >> As the suspect remained disrespectful, officers were forced to press her to calm down. When questioned again about the events of that night, she dismissed it as a normal argument, but her version didn't align with reality. Neighbors had reported intense screaming along with the sound of a child crying in fear. >> So, can you please tell me what happened? >> We were just having an argument. It was nothing crazy. I I scream. See how I was just yelling at you? I'm sorry for screaming at you. >> What was the argument about? I just our relationship like like three years and like just a breakup whatever the case may be. >> How long did the argument go on for? >> Just a few minutes that I remember. >> Aside from the basis of it, what were the main points? >> The main was like I I'm giving my friend more attention than I'm giving him. >> A female friend or a male friend? >> Female. >> Okay. How did it unfold? >> So he came home he was upset >> and when he came home he just started arguing with you about it. >> No, like he wanted to talk. I would just ignore him and then that's when the argument started. >> Okay. Why were you ignoring him? >> Cuz I didn't want to talk about it. And we've been talking about it all day. I'm tired. I came from work. I work from 7:00 to 3:00. >> So, you're tired about the argument. You don't want to continue it, right? >> Yes. That was it. We were just screaming or whatever the case may be. And it might be at this point. >> Can you give some dialogue to it? Like >> I feel like you don't care about my feelings. I'm talking to you about something. You're ignoring me. Basically that >> at any point like get physical with you? >> No. >> Where was the child when the argument was going on? >> He was in the room with me. >> Did you ask him to leave the room? >> Yes. Plenty of times. >> Did he keep coming back in? >> Yes. And it was about you hanging out with a girlfriend or is it more accusations of you being with like somebody else? >> No, just just my friend. Me and my friend are close. We're in nursing school together. >> People heard you guys arguing and they got worried. How old's your son? >> He's 18 months. >> Do you want to address him right now? >> Yeah. >> Why wouldn't you come to the door? Was he telling you not to? >> I don't like police. Like I have bad experience with police officers. >> I can tell you in this scenario when we're not getting a response, we fear the worst. And then we hear the kid crying. We hear the water going. We're wondering, "Hey, is somebody about to hurt the baby with the water?" You know what I mean? Had you came to the door and been like, "Hey, listen. We're all good here." I probably would have been like, "Hey, can you just step outside so I can verify? The water's running. The baby's crying. You come outside." You're like, "Hey, listen, guys. I'm just trying to give my child a bath. Here, come inside real quick." Probably would have stayed here. Okay. Yep. The baby's getting bathed and stuff like that. Talk to him. Talk to you. At this point, the suspect was taken to another area while officers reiterated the reasons for entering the home. As he answered their questions, he attempted to justify the situation by claiming she had been in the bathroom and couldn't hear anything. However, [music] this raised clear inconsistencies as officers had heard the baby crying even while she was inside. Details that didn't add up suggested that information was being withheld. together. I'm in the process of moving. And >> do you have custody of your child? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. My baby is my baby. She takes him to daycare and stuff. The daycare's around the block from our house. >> Have a seat. >> Am I under arrest? You're entertain. what sounds like a a physical fight in a residence, we are obligated by state law to get go inside and make sure everybody's okay. We get what you're saying. Look, I don't necessarily want to let people into my apartment either. But we have to if we cuz if cuz god forbid we leave, I'm not saying you're not a nice guy, right? But somebody else in there that knives up his girlfriend and then I leave, you want to know what they do? They take my car, they take my house, and they take my cat. I completely understand that, right? At the same time, everything going on right now, like we could barely hear y through the door and I'm telling you, like everything is fine. >> I know. We asked multiple times for you just to open that door. >> Why did y'all call my name through the door? >> Well, we we said, "Are you that's who lives there?" And you said, "No, >> I know I'm living there, though." Like, that's what I'm saying. Like, >> cuz it's on your DMV. It's on DMV. So, we have in-house history at the apartment. So, dispatch told us who resides at the apartment cuz last time Hey, okay. Okay, that makes sense, right? >> Bro, I'm really just in there just trying to get everything together. What's going on tonight though? Cuz somebody's calling in and there's yelling and stuff going on and they said your apartment. Can you tell me what's >> not even on the We loud. We're loud, bro. You could see we were in there bathing my son. Look at this. Y'all heard me clearly through the door. >> Yes. >> Could you hear you when you were right there by the door? We could hear you. Yeah. Could you hear the kids like crying a little bit, laughing in the background? That's all we could hear cuz it was really loud. I couldn't hear your girlfriend or whoever that is at all. >> And that's what I'm saying. Like a lot of times it do happen like that. >> As the investigation progressed, officers reflected on the moment they first entered the home. A shocking scene given the condition of the residence. Clutter and unsanitary conditions placed the child at constant risk of injury. The suspect claimed she had been cleaning at the time of the call, but that statement did not match what officers observed. The evidence instead pointed toward a case of domestic violence. >> Even the last time and that's why I'm I'm saying that like, yo, bro, like I'm good off this because it is the way it works. We have to come and make sure everybody's okay. >> I understand. >> You had this conversation in the hallway. >> Listen listen. He already explained that to me and I understand that completely. And first of all, yeah, I apologize, right? You can apologize all you want, but the the fact of the matter is if somebody gets hurt because you refuse to open the door, we're here investigating domestic. That falls all back on you. I'll tell you right now, you have another problem cuz you have a child in that house and it's absolutely disgusting. >> I was in in the process of cleaning. >> Cleaning? >> Yeah. >> Well, what did you clean in there? You got to get a shovel and maybe a backhoe to clean that mess. >> Not really. I'm doing that good over that. >> Okay, but you got a little child in there, man. You got to be considerate of that. You got all over the couch. You got stuff all over the >> couch. My son wasn't here, but my son just came home this weekend. >> Okay, but he's here now. He's here now. That's not acceptable, >> right? And I was at work. I'm I'm cleaning it up now. My son is never around now. So you talking about unacceptable. You have no idea. >> Your son is in there now. And that's not acceptable. >> That's how I keep my son. So understandable. I don't care what you think about that. >> Well, I know. I know what I see right now. >> All right. And in the process of cleaning, you also see garbage bags. >> I see a lot of stuff. You see garbage bags. That's an indication of cleaning. You see mops, you see bones, all that. I'm cleaning it up. I promise you. You can come back tomorrow. It won't be like that. I know you're not just talking. Be honest. >> No. No. I'm tell I'm explaining to you why DCF is going to be involved in your life now. That's fine. That's fine because we I will go through that one day. Everybody has their day. That's fine. Completely fine. I promise you my son has never been a situation like that. Look at him. You might be just >> I'm not looking. I'm telling you. I was literally in the process of cleaning that was looking like a day. >> He's sharing his concern. >> I'm not trying to do stuff in that office. Hey, bro. Y'all came in the wrong time. >> Happens, right? We're here when we're here. >> I don't look like that. My son don't look like that. Not like that. >> Not say anymore. All right. But I So tell me what's going on tonight. Why did somebody call that there was yelling and stuff going on? >> We're loud. We're not in there fighting. We're not in there bugging out on each other. We're loud. We probably got a few Wasn't even a heated argument. >> No. >> No. >> And she's going to say the exact same thing, man. Cuz I the last thing I want to do is go talk to her and then positive. >> Well, it's not pretty positive, right? If me and my girlfriend are doing whatever, right? >> At this point, the woman attempted to justify that her husband had done nothing wrong. But the evidence was clear. His choices would ultimately lead him to an unexpected outcome. Facing charges involving his own child. >> Two people separate us and they ask us, "Hey, what was going on?" We're going to have the same story. Not physical. >> Okay. But what was it? Arguing, yelling, >> arguing. Yeah. >> What are you guys arguing about? >> Multiple things. Just see with with work, school. I had to walk from everything today. Not nothing like on her own. Was nothing crazy. Just our >> responsibilities. Okay. I mean, I hear that. >> We talking about the house being dirty. Like look, >> I get that. Do you and the father both live here? >> Yeah, I think we do. >> Was he telling you not to come to the door? >> He didn't say anything to me. I was >> I don't know what they want. I said I'm not coming. I don't want to talk. >> Did any point in your mind did get across? Hey, maybe the police are here cuz we were having an argument. >> Probably. >> I mean, your neighbors, they don't know what's going on. They hear the shouting. Sounds like pretty good neighbors when they're like, we're in fear for whoever's inside the apartment. Hang tight. Okay. for emergency and baby's going to stay here. DC won't be cared. Technically, they both should be go 10. But with the >> But this is completely unacceptable. >> Yep. >> But he's going to go 1010 on risk of injury cuz it's his residence. Hey, stay here, little guy. Stay here. All right. Where you going? Come here, buddy. >> Hey. Hey, there. Why you running? >> Go get him. >> You coming here? Come here. >> Hello. Hello. Okay. You want to go see your mama? All right. Come on. >> I did a search with you. You understand? The police just broke down your door, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. A misunderstanding. >> Okay. I think the only misunderstanding is that you didn't open the door. The suspect continued trying to deflect the accusations, insisting that his wife was unable to speak with officers, but the pieces didn't fit. Officers [music] began to suspect that she might be hiding something, possibly out of fear of her husband. >> She didn't even tell you we're getting everything together. I want to open the door. >> Here's the area. It's interfering. >> What can I inter ask? >> Yeah. And you asked to see you said all you had need to do is speak to the female. I told her to go to the door. She went to the door. At that point, it's not on me. >> That's not right. That the >> That's not my home. How am I getting in charge of that? >> Yeah, because you are bringing the child into that home. >> How? I'm not custodial parent. >> Hop in the car. >> Bro, that's crazy. Y'all really doing this? >> There's a misconception. You don't need to be custodial parent to be charge. >> My son wasn't even there. I literally was even before that. I'll stop you before that. I don't need to argue charges with you. You're under arrest. Get in the car. >> You got the seat belt on. I want to just say like listen honestly say whatever you want. Go ahead. >> Honestly, I swear to God whenever I left I was going to open the door. I'm getting everything right. When I tell you ask her. She was butt naked. All I'm trying to do is get everything situated. >> Sure. But that's not the conversation we had when the door was closed. Right. >> Well, sir, I could barely hear you, sir. I'm telling you, >> we were having an open conversation. You said, and I quote, "Take the door. Do whatever you need to do." And we did. >> I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not going to lie. At that point, >> and we did it. >> DCF is clearly going to be involved at this point regardless. Veronoski in his conversation with her said he came home kind of was going at her that she's not spending time with him. She's spending time with her girlfriend. She's doing this XYZ and he's frustrated with it. She kept trying to end the conversation. He kept initiating the conversation but nothing had ever physical occurred. >> That's about what he said too. He said on both sides nobody's getting arrested for any sort of domestic issue. >> That's why we're here. >> At this point, officers grew increasingly concerned about the child's living conditions. What they uncovered was a pattern of poor care, irregular feeding, constant exposure to conflict, and a complete lack of basic necessities. The child had been left vulnerable without even the most essential care. >> Ma'am, this this apartment is not safe for a 18month-old. >> He's not here most of the time. I understand. So, look, they're going to take my baby now. >> No, we're not saying >> No, we're not saying that. >> We are going to make a DCF referral. That's more just to get you the services that you need to juggle school and having a kid. I mean, I I know you said your mom helps out. Maybe you need more support than just mom right now. Hi, Bubba. How are you? >> Is he staying here tonight or >> I have to. >> Was the plan for him to stay here? >> It was, but I said I >> Where was he going to sleep? >> He sleeps in the bed with me. >> You know that's not safe, right? for my 18month-old to sleep in the bed with me. >> Yeah, cuz if you roll over, you know what I mean? You can fall asleep on them. I mean, all three of you sleep in the bed. >> I don't know. I need to know. >> Where does he sleep? >> U clean out that pen. >> My son doesn't is not here all the time. I'm juggling school and >> you want to say just because of tonight seeing that he won't be here. >> It may be a good idea to clean out and then you can put him right next to you guys in the bed. But our next bed just not. Does the baby have food? >> What does he eat? >> Chicken nuggets. >> Is he on formula still? >> No. >> Got food? >> No. >> Did you guys have dinner tonight? >> Yes. I have one pizza. >> Where's the box? >> Just in this. He ate pizza as well. >> What do you got for two weeks out? What do you got? Yeah. could do the 26th. What do you have for food in the morning for breakfast? >> I'm going to go I'll have oatmeal, but I was going to go to McDonald. >> I have a lot of concerns with this apartment. It's not conducive for a child to be in. >> As the investigation progressed, the parents actions were placing their custody at risk and officers warned them of the possibility of losing it. At this point, the suspect was taken to the police station [music] where even in custody, he continued arguing with officers in an attempt to defend himself. >> My house is usually not like this. It's because I'm school. >> It didn't happen today. >> Yeah, this is a long >> Yeah, I don't like weeks of >> Man, we got dirty diapers everywhere. I mean, this >> the diapers alone are just >> I could be judgmental, whatever. >> I'm not being judgmental. I care for your child. I want your child to be safe. I can tell he doesn't have any markings on him. He doesn't look malnourished, but these conditions here could get him sick. >> The last thing me and this officer want to do is have to respond to an emergency call about a child who's unresponsive. And God forbid it's your child. All right? Because of something that could be taken care of. I know you have your hands full. If you need help, it's okay to ask for help. It's out there. We just want him to be safe. That's it. Bye, Bob. No. Okay. I was completely wrong. Is there anything like >> No, you're under arrest. It's pretty straightforward. >> This is going to be a lot worse for me like it would be. I promise you. So, I I did not expect >> You had a lot of opportunities to get out of this. >> I don't I don't Okay, we can talk once you're in the once you're in. All right. No weapons on you. Anything else I can go about? All right. Fortunately, the boss wasn't there. There's another situation is what it is. All right. I don't think it matters what it is, but it was 50. Yeah. It's recent injury, man. They good news. There's court in the morning, so you're only going to be here for like not even 12 hours. Just listen to what the judge says because, you know, just don't want anything else to come back on you. In the end, the suspect was arrested and charged with risk of injury.