BENTON COUNTY, Wash.- According to a Facebook post made by Benton County Sheriff’s Office, earlier today deputies received a report from KIBE elementary school saying an 8-year-old student had run off from school. The boy only had one shoe on and was potentially placing himself at risk with nearby road traffic.
According to BCSO, Efrain Palencia a local citizen, was at work in the local tire center and saw the boy running near the road. Palencia intercepted the boy to keep him from harm. Palencia assisted school staff and BCSO in bringing the boy back to school safely.
For his actions, Sheriff Croskrey awarded Palencia a certificate of recognition for going above and beyond to protect the boy. BCSO says he was also given a challenge coin for his actions.
