16-year-old Keonte Evans just wanted to make some money so he could buy his five younger brothers and sisters clothes before the start of a new school year. And, if he was lucky, he'd maybe even make enough to buy himself a PlayStation 5.
Not afraid of hard work, he decided that the best way to earn some dough was to start his own lawn care company. Excited about his business venture and having just snagged his first paying customer, he eagerly got to work.
That's when neighbors called the police on him.
Some Police Investigations Are Not What They Seem
Officer Eric Colleran of the Hapeville, Georgia Police Department took the call about the "suspected trespasser." The unnamed caller was concerned about the teen and wanted him removed.
When Colleran arrived, he didn't find a trespasser or a juvenile delinquent. Instead, he found Keonte. A teenage boy just trying to help his family.
"You might be told one thing over the radio, and when you show up on scene it's something completely different," Colleran said.
Keonte politely explained that he was in the area to do yard work: pulling weeds, cutting grass, and trimming hedges. He also told Colleran about wanting to help his five siblings and his single mom and his dream of someday owning a PS5.
Colleran quickly sorted out the misunderstanding and left.
One Teen’s Actions Result in a Heartwarming Act of Kindness
The fact that a hard-working teenager had the police called on him is a depressing sign of the times. But thankfully, the story doesn't end there.
Impressed by Keonte's respectful, soft-spoken demeanor and touched by his drive to help his family, Colleran returned to visit the teen a couple of days later.
He didn't arrive empty-handed. He had a surprise for Keonte in the trunk of his patrol car: a brand-new PlayStation 5.
"Officer Colleran, a gamer himself, was impressed with the young man and thought he would help him reach his goal," the police department wrote on its Facebook page alongside a video of the moving act of kindness.
Overcome with emotion, Keonte was speechless as he hugged the police officer tight.
In addition to the gaming system, Colleran also enlisted some help from his friends to get a gift card to pay for the membership so the boy could immediately begin playing.
"I didn't see it coming at all. It just out the blue. It came like a miracle." the excited teen said of the gift. "It made my heart melt because nobody ever did anything like this for me."
As for Colleran, he never expected to end up on the news. He just wanted to give back to a kid who really deserves it.
"I was just gonna try to help him out and reach his goals and let him understand that if you work hard and are honest, good things will come to you."
Officer Eric Colleran
How One Small Act of Kindness Can Make All the Difference
The harsh reality is that having the police called on him could have ended much differently. But thankfully, Keonte was recognized for what he is — a hard-working, kind-hearted teen who loves his mama and his younger siblings.
And one police officer's response completely changed the trajectory of that day.
Instead of Keonte being left bitter and angry over a phone call that had the power to negatively change his life, he learned a very different lesson that day.
"Work for what you want and what you need and you might get a blessing like this one day," the teen said.
And if there was ever a reason for choosing kindness over prejudice, THIS is it.
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