Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

13-Year-Old Calls Police To Say He Wants To Run Away From Home, Cop Decides To Look Inside His Room
User submission
50.4K
1.1M

13-Year-Old Calls Police To Say He Wants To Run Away From Home, Cop Decides To Look Inside His Room

ADVERTISEMENT

When 13-year-old Cameron Simmons from Sumter, South Carolina, called police officer Gaetano Acerra to tell him that he was planning to run away, the cop went to his house to investigate. The boy said he’d had a fight with his mother and didn’t want to live there anymore, but it was only when Acerra looked into the boy’s bedroom that he truly understood the gravity of the situation.

Cameron had almost no furniture, and his bed consisted of an air mattress that deflated during the night and gave him frequent back pain. It seems that his mother had fallen into financial difficulties since moving from Texas to care for a sick relative, and when officer Acerra saw the boy’s situation, he knew he had to help. So a few weeks later he returned with a desk, a chair, a television and a queen-sized bed for Cameron. He even gave him a Nintendo Wii that somebody had donated after hearing about the teenager’s story.

“My heart went out for him,” Acerra told WIS-TV. “I thought the little things that he needed I could give him, to make him a happier kid. I didn’t do this for publicity or to get people to notice me. I did it because I could. It was the right thing to do and I think people should do things like this.”

Police in the US often seem to get a lot of bad press, but this story goes to show that many cops are going above and beyond the call of duty in order to serve and protect. (h/t: WIS-TV)

ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED:

    When this 13-year-old called an officer to say he was going to run away from home, the cop decided to step in

    Image credits: HLN

    He went to meet Cameron Simmons to see what happened

    Image credits: HLN

    When the cop looked into his room he was shocked – no bed, just a deflated air mattress that gave him back pain

    Image credits: worldmoney (not actual photo)

    Apparently, his mother had fallen into financial difficulties since moving from Texas to care for a sick relative

    So a few weeks later he returned with a real bed, a desk, a chair, a television, and a Nintendo Wii for Cameron

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: HLN

    “My heart went out for him… I didn’t do this for publicity… I did it because I could. It was the right thing to do and I think people should do things like this”

    Image credits: HLN

    Watch the video below for more on this amazing story:

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The internet was quick to praise the officer for his compassion

    ADVERTISEMENT

    1.1Mviews

    Share on Facebook
    LMA

    LMA

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Read less »
    LMA

    LMA

    Author, Community member

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    RaroaRaroa
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This story is 3 years old, but still a nice story. Would be better if you could tell us how the boy's doing now though. Is he still friends with the cop? Are things better for his mother now?

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    we need more story like that. most cops are good person.

    Sally Brite
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Why publicize it this way and show the boy's name and face on the internet? This will be next to his name forever.

    Load More Replies...
    Savio Mathews
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am from India. Here, that'd be neat enough place for a 13 year old. At least he has a room! And, a bed like that would be considered luxurious! Perspective.

    Load More Comments
    RaroaRaroa
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This story is 3 years old, but still a nice story. Would be better if you could tell us how the boy's doing now though. Is he still friends with the cop? Are things better for his mother now?

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    we need more story like that. most cops are good person.

    Sally Brite
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Why publicize it this way and show the boy's name and face on the internet? This will be next to his name forever.

    Load More Replies...
    Savio Mathews
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am from India. Here, that'd be neat enough place for a 13 year old. At least he has a room! And, a bed like that would be considered luxurious! Perspective.

    Load More Comments
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda