The toddler refused to stop at the officer’s commands.
But he was eventually captured unharmed.
The Naperville Police Department posted dash cam video on its Facebook page showing the incident on Monday explaining the kid, a toddler, escaping from his mother’s “watchful eye” when she wasn’t looking.
The kid then left the house, fleeing on foot before officer Anthony Mannino spotted him running south down Route 59 near Chicago on June 7 last month.
“Last month, this youngster escaped his mother’s watchful eye, left his house and was found by Sgt. Anthony Mannino running on Route 59!” the department explained on their Facebook page.
“Luckily, no one was hurt, and we attribute that to Sgt. Mannino’s observation while on patrol and quick reaction, placing his squad car and himself between the child and traffic. On June 7, Sgt. Mannino was presented the department’s Life Saving Award. Well done, Sergeant.”
Mannino’s dash cam video shows him patrolling the beat when a running boy appears.
A truck passes only a few feet way from the toddler.
Officer Maninno can be heard describing the boy as a one-year-old to dispatch.
He jumps out of his car shouting at the running boy.
“Hey! Hey!” he shouts as the boy continues to flee.
“Come here!”
The boy doesn’t stop and continues to run.
Eventually, Maninno catches up to the boy.
“You’re OK; you’re OK,” he assures the kid.
Maninno then radios to dispatch he captured the toddler.
“Whats your name,” he asks before the video ends.
No one was injured during the ordeal and the boy was safely returned to his mother.
Mannino received the Naperville Police Department’s Life Saving Award last week.
“On June 7, Sgt. Mannino was presented the department’s Life Saving Award,” the department wrote on its Facebook page, lauding the officer.
“Luckily, no one was hurt, and we attribute that to Sgt. Mannino’s observation while on patrol and quick reaction, placing his squad car and himself between the child and traffic,” the department continued, honoring the officer and congratulating him.
“Well done, sergeant.”