Alert on, off-duty MPD officers rescue 6-year-old boy with autism from river near Miller Park

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police say alert on and off-duty officers worked together to rescue a child with autism near Miller Park.

Police say MPD bike officer Juan Lopez was on patrol for the July 26th Milwaukee Brewers baseball game at Miller Park when he was flagged down by a father from Glendale who said his six-year-old son with autism was missing.

Officer Lopez and Officer Michael Maldonado began immediately searching the surrounding area.

A few minutes later, a woman yelled to officers that the child was in the Menomonee River near the pedestrian bridge.

The child was standing in the water and MPD Detective Alexander Ayala and Officer Jose Acevedo, who were off-duty and attending a tailgate, ran to the river and took the boy to safety.

The child was reunited with his parents and no medical attention was needed.

Police say the quick response by everyone involved prevented a potentially dangerous situation and demonstrated that officers, even when off-duty, are always there to help the community.

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