When Alicia Pickett found a crying 7-year-old boy in Olympia's Yauger Park, she wanted to help him. But Pickett said trying to do the right thing became a confusing mess of 911 calls.
Pickett found the boy around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, September 7. He had gotten off the bus after school and headed to his babysitter's home as planned, but Pickett said the boy claimed the babysitter wasn't there. Confused and scared, he tried to make his way home and ended up in the park, crying and alone.
Pickett comforted him, calling 911 for help. The dispatcher got information and told her an officer was on the way. Meanwhile the boy's mother was calling 911, after realizing her son had not made it to the babysitter's home.
When the officer didn't arrive after 10 to 20 minutes, according to dispatch record, Pickett called back, several times asking what to do. She asked the dispatcher if she should take the boy to work with her while they wait.
The dispatcher repeatedly told Pickett he wasn’t authorized to tell her what to do, only that an officer was on the way. When Pickett said she had to get back to work, the dispatcher said if she had to leave she could, but again told her he was not authorized to tell her what to do.
Pickett finally took the boy to her work, telling the dispatcher where she would be. The boy’s mother, meanwhile, showed up at the park, frantically searching for her son, who was now gone.
In the end, mother and son here reunited, safely.
Cox Media Group
