LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – In December, Las Vegas Metro Police rescued seven children from a locked closet inside a vacant home near Grand Canyon and Elkhorn, where squatters were reportedly living.
“Everyone come out with their hands up. How many kids are there?” an officer can be heard saying on body camera footage, as they opened the closet door.
Police records show the children — including a 2-year-old and 3-year-old girl — were sleeping on the ground, with no furniture in the house.
Police said while the children didn’t show any signs of malnourishment or physical abuse — they were frightened and hungry.
“There are some small kids with the squatters in this residence. They haven’t eaten in a while,” an officer said on the body camera footage.
“You guys like chicken nuggets?” he asked the young girls in his patrol car.
The officers comforted the kids, played music and brought them food.
Due to the conditions in the home, and the mother not being there, child protective services was called for child abuse and neglect.
On Wednesday, Metro Police recognized Officer David Foster and Officer Michael Ross for their service and compassion in the case, as part of the department’s Good Ticket program.
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