5-Year-Old Saves Christmas From The Grinch

BYRAM, MS — Watching a full suite of “Grinch” Christmas movies was too much for 5-year-old TyLon Pittman. The Byram, Mississippi, boy was worried the Grinch would steal his Christmas. So, without his parents knowing, he dialed 911 to report the crime.

He hung up a few times, but eventually told the dispatcher what Dr. Seuss' classic character was up to. What happened next is delightful.

After the dispatcher who took the call posted about it on Facebook, Police Officer Lauren Develle made a house call to reassure the little boy that his and other children’s Christmas celebrations were safe. TyLon’s brother, airman TeDera Dwayne Graves II, who is home for the holidays on leave, posted a video of the encounter on Facebook, where it was an instant hit for people looking for something to smile about at Christmas.

That’s priceless enough, but on Monday, Develle and her junior deputy — of course, it was TyLon — collared the Grinch and put him behind bars. Looking sheepish, the Grinch called the boy over to the cell and shook his hand.

“You have saved Christmas for the people of Byram,” the Grinch said. “Your bravery is unmatched. You saved the day.”

TyLon had only one question, and the Grinch didn't have a good answer — or any at all.

“Why are you stealing Christmas?” he asked.

Develle said setting up the mock arrest was a way for her to demonstrate that police can be trusted and that they keep their word.

"I asked (TyLon) if he saw the Grinch, what would he do, and he said he'd call us and get us to come take him to jail,” she told the Jackson Clarion Ledger. “So I ended up looking around and I found him.”

TyLon’s mother, Teresa Brown-Pittman, said her son loves to talk on the phone.

“He calls people all the time,” she told WBTV. “If he gets your number, he’s going to call you and blow you up; but to dial 911, oh my God, no.”

Lavelle’s actions have brought a flood of media attention to Byram, a city of about 11,500 located a few miles north of Jackson. Patch reached out to Police Chief Luke Thompson by phone and email, and we’ll update this story if we hear back.

TyLon wants to be a police officer and lock up real criminals as when he grows up, and Thompson promised him a job application when he turns 21. The law-and-order kind of kid, and even when the Grinch apologized for his misdeeds, TyLon didn’t favor letting the Grinch go, but eventually decided he had enough time to think about his actions and released him from the holding cell.

He’s available to help police any time they need him, TyLon told WBTV.

“When they call me and they say it’s going so fast and they have a gun, I’m going to chase them so fast,” he said. “I’m going to ride my motorcycle so fast.”

Older brother Graves says what the Byram Police Department did is beyond impressive.

“I am just amazed at how big this has become,” Graves told Patch via Facebook Messenger. “A little post on Facebook that I figured my family and friends would get a good laugh from has gone viral and touched many across our great nation.

“I am extremely thankful for the Byram PD and their efforts to go above and beyond the call of duty to help secure Christmas for our community. It has been a humbling experience, and moments like this restore our faith in humanity.”

Below is the Facebook post that started it all:

Below, listen to the 911 call via the Clarion Ledger:

Photo of TyLon Pittman and Byram Police Officer Lauren Develle by TeDera Dwayne Graves II, used with permission