Sherwood, USA – Officers from the Sherwood Police Department responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a young autistic child running on the roof of a house and at risk of jumping.

Callers informed dispatchers that the child is non-verbal, and neighbors were desperately trying to keep him from falling.

When officers arrived, they saw the child in an extremely dangerous position on the rooftop. His grandmother was unable to climb up or bring him down safely.

Officers climbed onto the roof and held onto the child to keep him secure until firefighters from Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue arrived.

Working together, police and firefighters safely brought him down and reunited him with his family. The child’s parents granted permission for the footage to be used to educate the public about autism awareness.

The department emphasized that this incident illustrates the unpredictable behaviors sometimes seen in children on the autism spectrum. Children with autism may be drawn to heights, water, or other hazards due to curiosity, sensory seeking, or difficulty recognizing danger.

The statement also notes that interacting with individuals with autism requires calm communication, patience, and understanding. People on the spectrum may respond to fear, stress, or sensory overload by climbing, wandering, or running into unsafe situations.

Police urged the community to call 911 immediately if they witness a similar emergency, stressing that autism can present differently in every person and behaviors often reflect attempts to self-regulate or communicate.

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