A police officer off-duty stepped in to help a young girl who was stuck inside a claw machine at a bowling alley in Missouri.
Ryan Brown, who has been with the St. Charles County Police Department for 11 years, was at a Lucky Strike bowling alley in St. Peters last week with his family when they found the girl trapped inside the game.
“Equipped with determination and about $4, [Officer] Brown jumped into action,” the police department shared in a vivid recounting on social media.
Brown played several rounds on the machine and helped the girl escape through the prize slot.
He believed the girl was okay after a quick check and managed to find her family to reunite them.
Afterward, he returned to join his family but finished the bowling game with a score of just 96 points.
“We want to remind everyone that the St. Charles County Police Department is always ready to assist the #SCC community, both on and off duty,” the department proudly noted.
Police in the St. Louis area often see incidents involving claw games.
Earlier this year, for example, a 2-year-old named Cooper King got stuck in a claw machine at the Webster Groves Soccer Dome. His joyful screams drew the attention of many, but he seemed to enjoy the spotlight.
Just days after Cooper’s incident, another child, 3-year-old Patrick Campbell, also climbed into the same type of machine.
“I’ll get the ball!” Patrick declared, seemingly unfazed by the trouble.
He even posed for pictures, smiling widely while inside the machine.
