In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a quick-thinking crew at a Dickerson Pike laundromat pulled a toddler to safety after spotting him running naked near the Soap Opry Laundry storefront just after 2 a.m. Staff rushed the boy inside, wrapped him in clothes, gave him something to drink and called for help, while a passerby stayed outside to keep him out of the busy roadway. The child, who appeared to be about 2 or 3 years old, was taken to the East Precinct and later reunited with his parents.
According to WSMV, employees wrapping up a late shift spotted the boy around 2 a.m. in front of Soap Opry Laundry and described the scene as a "little boy completely naked running down the street no shoes." Manager Monique Miller told the station she has been "emotional since" seeing how close the child was to traffic, and workers said they pulled him inside while one person called police.
Where It Happened
Soap Opry Laundry lists its address as 811 Dickerson Pike in the 37207 ZIP code, along a stretch employees described as a busy road with steady early-morning traffic. That mix, they said, made the situation especially dangerous and underscored how quickly things could have gone wrong. Staff credited a passing pedestrian along with their own fast reaction for keeping the child out of harm’s way, and neighbors and workers praised both the quick police response and the employees who spotted the boy.
Police And Child-Welfare Response
Police took the child to the East Precinct and later reunited him with his parents, according to WSMV. The station reports the parents called 911 hours later after waking up and realizing their child was missing. A police spokesperson told the outlet that detectives are investigating the incident, although "no charges are anticipated." The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services is also reviewing what happened, the station added.
Workers at the laundromat said they were relieved the toddler was not hurt and hoped the family receives support after the scare. Miller said the incident left her shaken and "glad he's ok," and staff again pointed to officers for arriving quickly. Investigators are continuing to ask questions as they work to determine how the toddler ended up alone on the street in the middle of the night.
