Sarasota, Florida – The Sarasota Police Department (SPD) is currently conducting a thorough investigation into a traffic incident that occurred on Monday at approximately 6:30 p.m. The incident involved a Sarasota police cruiser and an 8-year-old child at the intersection of 22nd Street and Maple Avenue, resulting in serious injuries to the child.
According to official reports from the Sarasota Police Department, the officer was on duty and in transit from a separate call when the young boy entered the intersection. Circumstances indicate the child moved into the path of the police vehicle in front of the officer.
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche addressed the community via a video statement released on Facebook, providing transparency regarding the ongoing investigation. The statement included the release of body camera footage capturing the immediate aftermath of the incident. This footage reveals the officer’s immediate reaction upon realizing he had struck the child after executing a left-hand turn. He is seen exiting his vehicle and rushing to the child’s side as concerned citizens gathered at the scene.
The bodycam video further illustrates the distress of onlookers as the officer initiated chest compressions on the seemingly unconscious child in the street. Additional officers arrived swiftly to manage the growing crowd and secure the area, allowing emergency medical services to access the scene. An ambulance arrived and promptly transported the injured 8-year-old to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for urgent medical attention.
[alt text: Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche addressing the community about the traffic incident investigation and emphasizing police transparency in Sarasota]
Update reports from SPD confirmed that the child underwent surgery on Tuesday morning. As of Wednesday, he remained in the hospital under medical care, supported by his family. Details regarding his current condition and discharge status are still pending.
The Sarasota Police Department’s Traffic Unit, in collaboration with the Florida Highway Patrol, is diligently investigating all aspects of this incident. The focus of the investigation is the traffic incident itself to determine the sequence of events and contributing factors.
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