Police called for reports that a baby was left in a car that broke a window – only to find it was a doll.
Amy McQuillen, 36, and daughter Darci, ten, went shopping when the boy was fed up with carrying Elliott, their highly realistic “reborn” doll.
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Police broke a car window in an attempt to rescue a baby, only to find it was a DOLLPhoto credit: Terry Blackburn
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Mom Amy McQuillen, 36, and daughter Darci, 10, went shopping when the boy was tired of carrying their highly realistic “reborn” dollPhoto credit: Terry Blackburn
She put him on a booster seat in the family’s Nissan Qashqai while they went to another store. When they returned 15 minutes later, Amy was shocked to see a crowd, two uniformed police officers, and a broken passenger window.
The mother of four said police told her they were investigating a report of child neglect. She replied, “I have my daughter with me.”
Amy said, “They then said a newborn baby stayed in the car, so I said, ‘It’s a doll!’ I could not believe it. I know the dolls are realistic, but I didn’t think something like this would ever happen. “
Darci got Elliott as a Christmas present worth £ 60 and went to Asda to buy him clothes and diapers. Married Health Assistant Amy from Thornaby, Teesside added, “I didn’t see Darci sit Elliott on the booster seat and buckle up. Even if I had, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. . .she just played.
“Officers later said someone called them to say they saw the baby move, but then it stopped moving and they couldn’t see it breathing. I have no idea what that was as it is a doll.
“I understand the police have to act if they get a call like this – as a mother, I would be angry if they didn’t. But it was humiliating for me in front of a lot of people, and I was abandoned. ”With a broken window and angry daughter.
“The officers apologized when everything was cleared up and they went to see if my daughter was okay.”
The Cleveland Police Department pays the £ 264 bill to fix Amy’s window.
A spokeswoman said: “On that occasion, it was not what it seemed, but it was reported with the best of intentions. Officials would always rather find that no crime has occurred than miss an opportunity to protect a child. “
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The doll was put in a booster, but when Amy returned she saw a crowd, two uniformed police officers, and a broken passenger windowPhoto credit: Terry Blackburn
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Amy said, “It was humiliating to me in front of a lot of people and I was left with a broken window and an upset daughter”Photo credit: Terry BlackburnI’m an avowed bad parent and other mothers don’t want to be friends with me – I have no problem telling their kids what I really think of them
