Body Camera Video Shows Iowa Police Officers Catch Children Dropped From Window of Burning Apartment Building

March 20, 2019
Newly released body camera video shows four Des Moines police officers rescued three children trapped inside a burning apartment complex early Tuesday morning.

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Newly released body camera video shows four Des Moines police officers rescued three children trapped inside a burning apartment complex early Tuesday morning.

Officers Cole Johnson, Craig Vasquez, Tyler Kelley and Casey Sanders quickly positioned themselves outside the apartment complex in the 3700 block of MLK Parkway after they arrived on the scene shortly after receving calls at 3:14 a.m., according to a news release.

The officers found heavy smoke was preventing their access to the third floor and caught all of the children who were dropped to them from a window by their mother.

"I got 'em, yup. Drop 'em," an officer is heard yelling in the video. "Keep goin'. I got 'em. I got 'em."

No children, firefighters or police officers were injured in the incident.

"Please join us in thanking these officers, and those who serve with them, for leaving their homes every day to help make Des Moines the safe and secure city that it is!," the department said in a statement.

Investigators are currently looking into the cause of the fire, but the room where it originated was too badly torched to immediately pinpoint how it started, officials said.

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