Staff Reports
A five-year-old boy in Jacksonville, Florida gave his parents the scare of a lifetime when he snuck out of his house barefoot. The little guy had one mission in mind – getting breakfast at his favorite Chick-fil-A restaurant. When police found him enjoying his meal, he looked up and asked the heartbreaking question: “Are you going to put me in jail?”
This story shows what happens when parents lose track of their kids in today’s world. A kindergarten-aged child should never be wandering the streets alone, no matter how safe the neighborhood seems. Where were the adults who were supposed to be watching this little one?
Thank goodness for the good folks at Chick-fil-A who did the right thing. These restaurant workers saw a barefoot child eating alone and knew something was wrong. They called the police immediately instead of just ignoring the situation like too many people do today.
Our brave men and women in blue responded quickly to help this lost child. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers handled the situation with care and got the boy safely back to his family. This is exactly the kind of community policing that makes America great.
The boy’s innocent question about going to jail breaks your heart. Kids this young should be worried about toys and cartoons, not whether they’re in trouble with the law. It shows how confused and scared he must have been when the officers showed up.
This incident highlights the breakdown of family responsibility that’s plaguing our nation. Parents need to know where their children are every single moment. There’s no excuse for a five-year-old to escape the house and walk to a restaurant alone.
At least this story has a happy ending thanks to alert citizens and quick police work. The child was returned home safely without any harm coming to him. But next time, this family might not be so lucky.
Every parent reading this should take a hard look in the mirror. Are you watching your children closely enough? Are you teaching them about stranger danger and staying safe? This wake-up call could happen to any family that lets their guard down.
