Toronto cop comes to the rescue of 11-year-old boy with autism and Down syndrome

TORONTO — A Toronto police officer who came to the rescue of a mother and her 11-year-old son, who has autism and Down syndrome, is getting high praise for his quick thinking and sensitivity.

On July 7, Deidre Lam was driving past Fairview Mall on her way home after picking up her son Andre from day camp.

That’s when Andre managed to slip out of the car, after becoming fixated on a large TV screen running advertisements at the mall and wanting to get closer.

Lam tried to coax Andre back into the car but after nearly an hour standing in the pouring rain she was forced to call police for help.

Sgt. Matthew Routh answered the call.

“Andre was very clearly fixated on the TV screen there,” Routh said.

“Both of them were drenched and I felt so bad for them.”

So Routh jumped into action, putting his 16 years experience on the force to good use.

“I went over and introduced myself and tried to talk to him,” he said.

“I wasn’t having a lot of luck, that big screen was his focal point.”

Then Routh, who had taught children with physical and mental challenges to swim many years ago, decided to try and distract Andre with the lights on his police cruiser.

It wasn’t until the “heavens opened up,” as Routh tells it, and heavy rain began to fall breaking Andre’s concentration, that the plan worked.

Lam then convinced her son to start walking back to their car, which was parked a distance away. Routh then drove beside them with his lights flashing, waving his hand the whole way.

Lam wasn’t sure what to expect when she called police that day for the first time ever, but she’s relieved that she did.

The family is grateful to Sergeant Routh and called to thank him personally.

“Both mum and dad gave us a call and gave me personally a call,” he said.

“It was kind of an amazing experience.”