Off-duty officer rescues child from claw machine at bowling alley

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. (Gray News) - An off-duty police officer in Missouri came to the rescue of a young girl who found herself trapped inside a claw machine.

According to the St. Charles County Police Department, Officer Brown was at an area bowling alley last week when he came across the child inside the arcade game.

“Armed with courage, nerves of steel and approximately $4, Officer Brown sprang into action,” St. Charles police shared in a social media post.

The veteran officer was able to use his skills to defeat the game and rescue the little girl, safely returning her to her family.

“Just another reminder that the officers of the St. Charles County Police Department are always ready to serve,” authorities said.

This marked the third reported time of a child being stuck in a claw machine in the St. Louis area so far this year. Just a few months ago, two children also found themselves in a machine in Webster Groves just days apart.