SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio — After a non-verbal teen walked away from his group home in South Euclid and entered a nearby home, the homeowner developed a rapport with the teen and even rode along in the police cruiser to put him at ease on the way back to his group home.
At about 6:18 p.m. Thursday, a woman on Parkside Boulevard reported that her home had been entered by an unknown male, according to a Facebook post from the South Euclid Police Department. The woman told her husband, and it was discovered that the juvenile male was non-verbal. Police were notified.
While officers responded, dispatch altered them to a second call about a 17-year-old male who had walked away from his group home nearby, the post states. The home’s staff members were searching the area for him. The caller told police that the teen had severe mental health issues and may become combative.
When officers arrived at the Parkside Boulevard home, they saw the homeowner sitting on his front porch with the boy, the post continues. The homeowner had quickly developed a rapport with the boy.
The homeowner engaged the teen in conversation and kept him calm while police arrived, South Euclid police public information officer Joe Di Lillo said.
"It’s a good thing the homeowner had the presence of mind" to keep calm in that situation, Di Lillo said.
Without the officers even asking, the teen walked toward the patrol car to be driven home.
"He was aware of what was going on," Di Lillo said, adding that the special needs teen had walked away from his home before.
The homeowner asked if he could ride with the teen to make him feel more comfortable.
"This homeowner, at this point, went above and beyond," Di Lillo said.
The two rode together in the back seat of the patrol car back to the young man’s group home, where he was reunited with staff members.
The resident and the teen shared a hug and a handshake, and everyone went on their way.
"The homeowner did a tremendous job," Di Lillo said. "It’s residents like this that truly are what we want and what we need in South Euclid."
