PALMDALE – A 15-month-old boy is alive today thanks to the efforts of two Palmdale Station deputies, who saved the infant from a near-drowning accident Saturday morning.
The incident happened at a family home on 85th Street East in Littlerock. Around 10:18 a.m., a 9-1-1 call from the home came in to the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station reporting that a 15-month-old baby was not breathing.
Coincidentally, Palmdale Station Deputies Shaffer and Towne were close by.
“We happened to be across the street and two houses over from where the call went out,” said Deputy Todd Shaffer.
Shaffer said when he arrived to the home, the situation was chaotic.
“There were several kids at the house, all brothers and sisters, and they were all in a panic, screaming and crying, and the 17-year-old sister who was with the patient at the time was attempting to start some CPR on him,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer said he quickly assessed the infant, and noticed he was not breathing.
“We began rescue breathing on the child,” Shaffer said. “We couldn’t get a pulse, so I personally started the actual [chest] compressions for the CPR on the child.”
Shaffer said they contacted emergency services and continued CPR until the Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics arrived. The paramedics continued the CPR while transporting the baby to the hospital in an ambulance. Deputies used their patrol cars with lights and sirens to block traffic in the intersections so they could expedite the arrival time of the ambulance to the hospital.
When the baby arrived at the hospital, medical professionals found that he had a pulse. Shortly thereafter, the boy began labored breathing on his own.
“To hear that when they got to the hospital, the little guy’s got a heartbeat, it’s pretty rewarding,” Shaffer said.
The baby was airlifted to another hospital for specialized treatment where he remains in critical condition.
Shaffer said an investigation revealed the infant’s 9-year-old sister, who has a developmental disability, had apparently taken the baby into the family pool.
The infant’s 17-year-old sister found the baby’s lifeless body face down on the grass near the pool, and another adult sibling called 9-1-1.
Shaffer said the incident was turned over to the Department’s Special Victims Bureau.
“Their statement so far, with the evidence we’ve come up with, is it is an accident,” Shaffer said. “It’s a tragic accident.”
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Mary D says
Sadly, the little guy sustained significant brain damage and passed away on Sunday afternoon. Heartfelt thanks to all who helped in this tragic situation. Please keep the family in your hearts, they are wonderful people and they are suffering deeply.
Stinger says
I am greatly saddened to hear that the child didn’t make it. I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the family and hope that they may find comfort quickly after this blow.
Palmdale_Steve says
That’s why there are fences around pools in CA, but it seems to me with a 9 year old developmentally disabled child in the house the family might want to add a lock to the gate.
Good work by the LASD deputies, they deserve some sort of award!
Getreal says
Im proud of these guys. Good job!
Concered says
Where are all of the haters of the LASD on this one?
Melitta says
Eating CROW
T-Bone says
This is probably the first time this neighborhood was happy to have LASD so close! Luckily they were 2 houses down taking care of some trouble so they could respond quickly!
Dawn says
Just because you disagree with LASD actions from time to time, it does not make you a hater. Everyone knows there are some fine officers in the Sheriff’s Department, as demonstrated by this situation. Good officers like Shaffer and Towne are to be commended.
But there are also bad apples, like the ones that belong to the Jump Out Boys and the Vikings.
It is those bad apples that caused the Justice Department to swoop down on the Antelope Valley. The actions of upstanding officers cannot make up for those officers that trample on people’s civil rights. Bad officers should be weeded out and removed from the force, period.
... says
I don’t think people hate LASD as a whole, it’s the bad ones people dislike. For those that love the LASD, answer this question, have you ever had the very people that are to serve and protect, steal from you, lie in reports and tamper with witnesses?
dealwithit says
No, and neither have you. Just because your loved one was arrested then took a plea bargain, doesn’t mean the cops “lied, stole, or tampered with witnesses!” If your peeps were so innocent, why didn’t they fight the case?? The problem with people like you is you say EVERY arrest and conviction is somehow scandalous. Fight the case if you’re innocent! But you’re not….
... says
I don’t have to lie and I surely would not put this on a public web site if I were. Most of the arrest are scandalous. It’s people like you that don’t want to hear the truth about the good old boys club. Sir I have proof. That’s why the DOJ is in their s–t. If you have nrver felt let down by the very people that are to protect you,then you will never understand. Like I told the recently retired Officer Stewart, he will have to answer to god one day and he didn’t look so well last time I saw him. You sir can take that to the bank. I would never allow any of my loved ones to accept a plea for something they did not do. What people need to understand is they need to fight because nine times out of ten, the boys don’t have proof of the made up lies anyway. How dare you!!!!now deal with that.
T-Bone says
Good work LASD! I assume there was a fence around the pool? Maybe a lock would be a good idea from now on? Just saying..