Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - Police in Orchard Park responded on Wednesday to an incident of a small child who managed to somehow slip away from a child care facility and end up drifting toward a busy roadway.
Police Chief Patrick Fitzgerald confirms to WBEN that dispatchers received phone calls from motorists on Wednesday at the same time as the child care facility.
"Officers did respond, when they got on location, they did take custody of a small child that was with a passing motorist and was reunited with staff at the child care facility, who determined that the child had had left without supervision for a brief period of time," said Chief Fitzgerald in an interview with WBEN.
Luckily, the child was unharmed and returned to the custody of the child care facility by responding officers. Chief Fitzgerald says the child seemed unfazed by what occurred. The family of the child was notified by the staff at the business.
Police worked with the child care facility on their internal investigation, as far as what happened and why it happened, and how it could certainly be prevented in the future.
While the business continues its internal investigation, there will be no further police involvement with this incident.
Fitzgerald says the Orchard Park Police Department periodically receives calls from concerned neighbors and motorists who indicate there may be a child who looks be too young to be on their own or unsupervised, or in close proximity to a street, a parking lot or other dangerous conditions. He says if anyone sees something out of the ordinary, don't be hesitant to report it.
"It really was best case scenario as far as the outcome, but better to be safe than sorry," Fitzgerald said. "And if you see something, pick up that phone and make that phone call. We would rather investigate something that didn't need to be investigated than have someone feel not comfortable, and maybe we could have been in a position to help or prevent tragedy from occurring."