South Bend Police are praising two officers for helping safely resolve a potentially dangerous situation involving a child near the St. Joseph River.

Police were called to the Jefferson Boulevard Bridge, last Thursday, after a child with autism ran from a parent and employees of a nearby clinic.

Officers say the child climbed down a ladder onto an unstable dock and was sitting at the edge with their feet in the water. Officer Robert Anton slowly approached and talked with the child, eventually convincing them to move away from the river.

Officer Paul Strabavy helped get the child back onto stable ground.

When the child mentioned being hungry, Strabavy went to a nearby restaurant to get them something to eat.