Overview
- A frantic 911 call led officers to the side of Foothill Boulevard on Aug. 5, where a 3-year-old boy had stopped breathing after choking on vomit.
- Officers Joshua Colorado and Juan Villasenor took over from bystanders, gave back blows and used a LifeVac suction device to clear the child’s airway until he began breathing again.
- Rialto Fire Department paramedics transported the child to a local hospital for evaluation, and officials say the autistic, nonverbal toddler made a full recovery.
- The Rialto Police Department released body-worn and dash camera video showing the on-scene rescue and a tearful hospital reunion between the child, his mother and the officers.
- Officials framed the episode as evidence that equipping and training officers with adjunct medical tools such as commercially available suction devices can improve outcomes in sudden medical emergencies.