Inmates in Florida recently used their “skill set” to help free a one-year-old child who was accidentally locked in the backseat of an SUV.
The incident occurred in the parking lot of a courthouse in New Port Richey. Authorities received a call on Thursday reporting a child trapped inside an SUV. When officers from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office arrived, they found the child securely seated in a car seat and appearing comfortable, with the outside temperature around 13°C.
After several unsuccessful attempts to unlock the SUV, the parents explained to the officers that they couldn’t afford a locksmith. The child’s father considered breaking a window when a nearby group offered their help. An inmate officer, accompanied by five low-risk offenders who were working on repairs in the parking lot, stepped in to assist.
Footage shows the inmates, with officers nearby, working together to pry open the driver’s side door just enough for one inmate to use a coat hanger to reach the electronic lock and unlock the vehicle.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco explained to NBC 2 News, “Our trustees are people who have made mistakes, but we’re helping them rehabilitate and return to society. These individuals recognize their past choices, but they want to make things right.”
Thanks to the teamwork, the group successfully freed the child unharmed. Sheriff Nocco noted that the inmates’ “skill set” proved useful, emphasizing that they can only assist under direct supervision and with permission from a deputy.