Children trapped inside a home during a domestic disturbance in Kissimmee, Florida, sparked a dramatic police response after one held a handwritten "HELP US" sign against a window. Officers from the Kissimmee Police Department were called to the address on October 26 after worried family members raised the alarm.
Relatives told officers they feared for the children's safety, and police said one child had even texted his grandmother, prompting family members to contact authorities as the situation unfolded.
Drone locates children hiding in room
In a post on Facebook, the Kissimmee Police Department wrote: "Family members alerted officers that children were inside the residence and feared for their safety. Using a drone, officers located the children hiding in a room, where one child bravely held a handwritten note against the window reading 'HELP US'."
Three youngsters were reportedly sheltering in a guest bedroom while a five-month-old baby was in the master bedroom where the incident unfolded. The police's Facebook post further read: "The children were able to safely escape the residence while Smithson was distracted. [...] Smithson eventually surrendered peacefully. Smithson was arrested on charges of false imprisonment and an outstanding active warrant."
Arrest of Andre Janard Smithson
Andre Janard Smithson, 33, was arrested on October 26 and charged with false imprisonment after relatives alerted police they were terrified for the children's safety, The Palm Beach Post reported. Prior to the arrest, officers arrived and knocked, but got no response from inside.
The disturbance began when an adult woman inside the home, the mother of the five-month-old baby, told her sister that Smithson was "beating" her. She was in the master bedroom with Smithson and the infant, WTSP reported.
Police then made contact with the children by phone, and they told officers that Smithson was refusing to let them leave and that they were frightened of him. Authorities said the children managed to get out safely while officers created a distraction.
Smithson later gave himself up without incident and was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment, as well as on an outstanding active warrant. Both Smithson and the alleged victim reportedly told police the argument did not turn physical.
