Crime & Safety

Officer Pays For Homeless Man's Meal Then Makes Heartwarming Gesture In Cobb

Cobb officer paid for a homeless man's meal in Austell then did something even more amazing.

AUSTELL, GA -- A Cobb County police officer responding to a disturbance at an Austell restaurant ended up paying for a homeless man's meal, but it was the amazingly heartwarming gesture that followed that has people talking. The lawman, identified by Cobb authorities, as Officer DeLoach, arrived at the O’Charley’s on Austell Road and talked to the manager.

The manager told DeLoach that a man came in, ordered and ate his food and told them that he didn't have any money for payment, according to a Cobb Police Department post on Facebook.

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When DeLoach talked to the man he admitted that he didn't have any money, but that he was homeless and hungry. "The officer believed the man may be suffering from a handicap and did not comprehend the severity of the situation," the department wrote.

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DeLoach asked the manager for the bill, which would satisfy the debt incurred by the homeless man's meal -- but then the officer went one further: He asked whether the manager would consider lessening the claim against the man to trespassing -- a marked reduction from failure to pay.

The manager agreed to the deal and the officer paid for the meal and the got away with a trespass warning. He was allowed to leave the area and everybody left happy. If that doesn't cause a blue streak to fall on your cheek I don't know what will.

Image via Cobb County PD / Facebook

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