Omaha mother thanks police, neighbors for actions during teen’s mental health crisis
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - An Omaha mother went into panic mode a few weeks ago when her son escaped from a group home. It wasn’t long until a frightened woman called police, because the 17-year-old stranger was in her house.
The call came out as a home invasion in a neighborhood east of Benson High School. A couple and their young child were home at around 6 p.m. when the teen, clearly in distress, came through their front door.
An officer who was nearby heard the call, and he said he quickly assessed the situation to be something less than a criminal home invasion — but more like a mental health crisis.
“I saw the presumed homeowner waving me down pretty frantically,” said Omaha Police Officer Ryan Keele. “There was someone in her house.”
But the teen boy — whom his mother says is a big kid full of energy — wasn’t able to communicate. He’s autistic, and also non-verbal. His mom said officers gave him paper and pen to try to write his name down. When that didn’t work, they tried asking him questions, but he just nodded and smiled.
The situation could have spiraled out of control, according to his mother, Trameka Cleveland, but it didn’t. On Wednesday, Cleveland asked to see the officers involved so she could thank them for their patience and humanity.
“Today, we come together not only to express gratitude, but to celebrate compassion, patience and teamwork in what could have been a dangerous and deadly situation,” Cleveland said. “To see that they took the necessary training and used it to communicate with him to learn he was a special needs kid — that speaks volumes.”
She also personally thanked the homeowners for their empathy and kindness under hectic and unnerving circumstances. She has since found another group home for her son, and the officers said that part of their mental health training involves surveying and understanding this type of crisis.
The Omaha Police Officer’s Association donated some toys to the teenager in appreciation for his mother’s kind words.
SpongeBob is his favorite, and his face lit up when he saw it.
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