Mesquite Police officer saves child’s life at Green Valley Grocery

MESQUITE, Nevada — An off-duty Mesquite Police officer saved a 3-year-old child’s life Monday evening after a man and woman ran into the Green Valley Grocery with their son who was choking on a large piece of candy.

Just before 8 p.m., a man and woman rushed frantically into Green Valley Grocery, located at 290 North Sandhill Blvd., carrying their 3-year-old son who was choking on a large piece of candy, according to a statement written by Mesquite Police Lt. MaQuade Chesley. A 911 call was placed into the Mesquite Police Department Emergency Dispatch Center from Green Valley Grocery.

However, when the dispatcher answered the 911 call she could only hear yelling in background. The dispatcher broadcast the emergency over the police radio, informing officers that they received a 911 call with screaming in the background from Green Valley Grocery.

Mesquite police officer Quinn Averett, currently assigned as a K-9 officer for the Mesquite Police Department, had just finished his shift for the day and was headed home when he heard the call come over the police radio. He was about a block away from Green Valley Grocery, and without knowing the conditions of the call, he responded to the scene.

As Averett approached the door, he heard a woman screaming. He entered the convenience store and found a man holding his semi-conscious 3-year-old son who was not moving, according to the statement.

“Averett reverted to his first aid training, grabbed the small child and began life saving measures,” Chesley wrote in the statement.

After approximately one minute of working with the child, Averett was successful in dislodging a large jawbreaker candy from the child’s airway, according to the statement, and the child immediately began breathing and crying. Store surveillance footage captured the seriousness of the event as well as the efforts made by Averett.

See the video here.

The child was later medically evaluated by paramedics who responded to the scene.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by responders on scene and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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9 Comments

  • Koolaid December 19, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    Kooool!

  • Paul December 19, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Good work Nice job saving that child props to the mesquite police

  • wacko bird December 19, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    yeah for the Good Guys! Thanks to all the police and first responders for all you do. Merry Christmas to you all.

  • Justme... December 19, 2014 at 3:53 pm

    Were the parents cited for giving their toddler a jawbreaker? Thank God an officer was nearby and able to respond so quickly. Good work…

  • koolaid December 19, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    Fundraisers….

  • Joe Smith December 19, 2014 at 7:14 pm

    we need more police like that guy

  • LadyInRed December 20, 2014 at 1:41 am

    The Heimlich is very easy to learn (mostly common sense) and when I posted about it, the mother has done nothing but make excuses. You should see her FB page. LOTS of pics of her (selfies), and main pic is booze. Yay for this child. I hope the parents learn to take better care of him.

  • Kibblesnbits December 20, 2014 at 10:39 am

    Somebody has children and has no knowledge of CPR or the Heimlich maneuver…? are you kidding me.? good thing they weren’t out. camping. in the middle of nowhere. That is just plain STUPID and IRRESPONSIBLE they should both be cited. for being. morons

    • My Evil Twin December 20, 2014 at 7:24 pm

      Zonker, if being a moron was a crime, you would be serving life without parole.

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