The Eyrie

KISSIMMEE, FL — A child inside a Florida home helped officers bring a tense domestic disturbance response to a safer ending by holding a handwritten note in the window that read “HELP US,” according to Kissimmee police.

Investigators said the child’s message came as officers were responding to a 911 call on Oct. 26. Family members had told police that children were inside the residence and feared for their safety, prompting a careful search of the home.

Police said the situation ended with the children and other family members getting out safely. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Andre Janard Smithson, was later arrested and charged.

Police say family members warned officers children were inside

Kissimmee Police said the response began after a 911 call brought officers to the home on Oct. 26. When they arrived, family members told them children were inside and that they were worried about the children’s safety.

That warning quickly shaped the police response. Instead of rushing blindly into the residence, officers worked to determine where the children were and how to get everyone out without causing more danger.

Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the disturbance. But the department’s account shows that officers were dealing with a fast-moving family crisis in which the children’s safety was the immediate concern.

Drone search located children hiding in one room

Police said a drone was used to search the home, and the device found the children hiding together in one room. That gave officers a better sense of where the children were and how to proceed while the situation remained unstable.

According to investigators, one child then pressed a handwritten note against the window that said, “HELP US.” Police described the act as brave, saying the note helped officers understand that the children needed immediate assistance.

The image of a child using the window to signal for help became a key moment in the police response. It also gave officers confirmation that people inside the home were scared and needed to be removed quickly.

Officers removed the children while the suspect was distracted

Police said officers were able to get the children out of the residence while Smithson was distracted. The department did not say exactly what distracted him, but it said that the moment allowed officers to complete the rescue safely.

Once the children were out, the focus shifted to the adult suspect. Kissimmee police said Smithson eventually surrendered peacefully to officers, ending the confrontation without further reported violence.

Authorities have not described any injuries in connection with the incident. Based on the police account, the priority throughout the response was protecting the children and keeping the situation from escalating further.

Smithson faces false imprisonment charge and outstanding warrant

Smithson was arrested and charged with false imprisonment, according to police. He also faced an outstanding active warrant, the department said.

False imprisonment generally refers to unlawfully restraining someone’s movement. Police did not provide additional details in the statement about the circumstances that led to that charge or how it applied in this case.

As of Wednesday, inmate records showed Smithson was being held in jail. No attorney information for him was immediately available.

Kissimmee case highlights how children can signal danger to responders

The Kissimmee case stands out because a child’s handwritten plea became part of the rescue itself. Police credited the note with helping officers recognize the urgency of the situation and move the family to safety.

Responses to domestic disturbance calls can change quickly, especially when children are involved. In this case, police relied on a combination of family warnings, a drone search and the child’s sign to locate the children and secure the home.

Officials did not say whether the family remained together after the arrest or whether additional court proceedings had been scheduled. For now, the department says the main outcome was that the children were safely removed and the suspect was taken into custody.