Sometimes people make decisions that get them in trouble with the law.
Often the reasons they make these choices are baffling to the people watching, but on occasion the reasons behind someone’s crime are starkly clear. Being a young, single mother can be hard without support, and accessing services that are able to help can be maddeningly difficult. Still, we expect moms to do everything they can to support their kids. That’s why one woman recently made a choice to help her son that wound up with the store calling the police. But thanks to one compassionate officer, this story turned out much different than usual.
The unnamed 20-year-old mother was grocery shopping when she realized she didn’t have enough money for two packs of diapers.
She made the choice to steal them, which resulted in the police being called for shoplifting.
Flickr / Inga Munsinger Cotton
Officer Bennett Johns decided to purchase the diapers with his own money to help the young woman out. She was also cited for shoplifting, but that citation was referred to social services.
Facebook / City of Laurel – Government
Officer Johns is being lauded for compassionately following the law and having empathy for a young mother and her innocent son.
Facebook / City of Laurel – Government
(via ABC News)