Officer rescues missing toddler with autism found floating in neighbors’ pool
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA/Gray News) - The parents of a 3-year-old boy with autism say they are grateful for the police officer that saved their son from drowning in a neighbor’s pool.
Fort Wayne Police Officer Evan Myers was among those who responded to a family’s home last Sunday for reports of a missing 3-year-old child. The parents of the boy, who is named Aziel, told WPTA they were preparing brunch for family and friends when one of those friends forgot to lock the top latch.
“My friend goes, ‘Where’s your son?’ So, I was like, he should’ve been on the couch watching his tablet,” said the boy’s dad, Alex Calvillo.
Calvillo says because his son has autism, he often wanders around with less concern for his safety. He says normally he never gets far because they keep a close eye on him, but this time they couldn’t find him.
Aziel’s mom, Savannah Ybarra, says she grew more concerned after asking the neighbors if they had seen him, and they hadn’t.
“Like, OK, this is serious. I need to call the cops. They’re all out looking for him, as well, and it’s obviously nerve-wracking at this time. With me being pregnant, it’s even more stressful because I’m just like I don’t know where he’s at,” she said.
Responding officers searched the family’s home and area for Aziel with no luck until Myers heard a cry coming from a nearby home. He ran through an open fence and found the boy two houses down, floating on his back in an above ground pool.
Myers rescued the 3-year-old from the water and carried him to safety. The intense moments were caught on his body camera video.
Calvillo says Aziel likes water and swimming, which the police were initially unaware of.
“After I reminded him that he’s autistic and likes water, about like two minutes after that, they ended up finding him,” Calvillo said.
The dad says that since his son was 1, when the family goes swimming, he keeps the boy on his back, so he can try to float in the water.
“I’m pretty sure that’s what played a role in him remembering to stay there,” he said.
Aziel’s parents say they are extremely grateful for Myers.
“I want to personally thank him deeply for just being able to find my son,” Ybarra said.
“I definitely want to give him a huge thanks. I can’t describe how grateful I am,” Calvillo said. “Definitely means a lot to us and our family.”
The 3-year-old was able to access the neighbors’ pool due to the open fence. The family says the fence was only open for about a week for unknown reasons. Now, the fence is closed.
The family says they are planning to put up a fence of their own.
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