In a recent incident reported in Arkansas, local law enforcement officials have made available body camera footage that appears to depict the rescue of a 5-year-old girl from a hidden compartment within a 40-year-old man's walk-in closet.
The child, whose identity has not been disclosed by authorities in Tontitown, Arkansas, was reportedly discovered in a concealed and confined space, concealed by a board securely fastened to the wall inside the residence of the suspect, identified as John Thompson, as per an arrest report cited by USA Today.
Initially, Thompson allegedly denied the presence of the child when law enforcement and Arkansas Department of Human Services personnel arrived at his residence. Nonetheless, police sources, as reported by 5 News, indicated that they heard banging noises during their time at the location. Ultimately, Thompson permitted them to enter the residence, at which point he proceeded to kneel down within the closet, rearranged some boxes, and removed a board that had been affixed to the wall, thereby enabling the girl to emerge from her concealed location, as detailed in the arrest report.
Police officers' body camera footage shows the interior of the crowded walk-in closet, with a man in a baseball cap and overalls searching through clothes. Throughout this, the man can be heard saying "baby," with the background featuring the sound of a barking dog. Subsequently, the man brings out a child whose face is obscured in the video.
Law enforcement officers on the scene warmly greet the child, with two of them addressing her as "sweetie." Detective Keith Lindley described the child as visibly emotional and frightened when she was brought out, noting that she had been instructed by Thompson to remain silent and conceal her presence in the concealed space.
Thompson is currently facing charges related to false imprisonment, child endangerment, and interfering with child custody, as reported by KARK. Following his arrest, he was booked into the Washington County Detention Center and was subsequently released on $5,000 bail two days later. He has reportedly entered a guilty plea, according to USA Today, though it remains uncertain whether he has secured legal representation.
When contacted for comments, Tontitown authorities did not respond to inquiries from PEOPLE on Wednesday.
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