A 3-year-old Ohio boy who police say chased after the car that abandoned him just days before Christmas received an outpouring of support from the Hinckley community who sent the young boy numerous gifts.
Officers of the Hinckley Police Department responded to a call on Dec. 23 that there was an abandoned child found at the Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery, according to Hinckley Police Chief David Centner.
Upon arrival, officers were informed that a young boy, only identified as Tony, had been dropped off along with a dog and went “running” after the blue mid-sized car that sped out of the cemetery.
Tony only knew his first name, but was able to identify his parents’ first names. The little boy was taken into custody and placed with a foster family in Medina County, according to Centner. Police were able to identify Tony’s parents and Centner said that the boy’s father has been “very cooperative” with the investigation.
Tony’s father said a relative sent him the photo of Tony and he immediately called police to inform them that Tony was in his mother’s custody when he was abandoned, according to Fox 8. Tony is being cared for by an aunt and uncle, according to the report.
Police and Tony’s father were also able to capture Tony’s dog, Fox 8 reports. (RELATED: 11-Year-Old Boy Uses Birthday Money To Feed The Homeless Chick-Fil-A)
Police said following Tony’s rescue, local members of the community stepped up to the plate to help.
“I would like to thank everyone for their kindness in wanting to buy Christmas presents for Tony, take him in and adopt him,” Centner said. “You all are amazing people and why we have such a great community here in Hinckley, all of Medina County and beyond.”
Centner wrote on Christmas Eve that the police department lobby “is full from the gifts that have been dropped off.”
“I reached out to my friend Santa and tomorrow morning after he has finished his deliveries he is going to stop at HPD. We are going to load the sleigh and make one final stop to see [sic] our little friend.”