Shocking bodycam footage has surfaced showing Cobb County police officers urgently rescuing two small children trapped inside a hot vehicle parked at Cumberland Mall. The dramatic scene unfolded on June 4, when officers responded to a 911 call about kids left alone in a locked car with windows barely cracked.
The footage, released by the Cobb County Police Department, shows officers rushing to the vehicle and smashing a window to reach the distressed children. “It’s OK,” one officer can be heard comforting the young boy as they pull the kids from the dangerously overheated car.
Within 30 minutes of the rescue, the children’s father, identified as J’quawn Dixon, was taken into custody and later booked into Cobb County Jail. According to an arrest warrant, Dixon was charged with second-degree cruelty to children for causing “cruel or excessive physical or mental pain” through “criminal negligence.” His bond was set at $10,000, and he was released the following day.
Police credited bystanders for their swift action. “Kids Locked in Hot Car: Body Camera Footage. On June 4th, our officers saved two young children… But first, a big THANK YOU to the concerned citizens who called 911,” the department wrote on Instagram. “You saw something and did something, and that made all the difference.”
The 911 caller told dispatchers, “I am standing outside of the Dick’s at Cumberland Mall and there are two children in a car by themselves—small kids crying. The windows are cracked, but I don’t think that’s right.”
Social media users were quick to praise both the good Samaritans and officers. “Thank you to everyone who prevented a tragedy,” one user posted. Another added, “The father should be locked in a hot car for at least an hour.” Others expressed disbelief and outrage that such negligence still happens, especially in extreme summer heat.
This incident adds to the growing list of nationwide concerns over children being left in vehicles, particularly during scorching weather.
