DPD responds to viral video of child yelling for help

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Decatur's police chief posted a rare online video responding to a now-viral video that showed a young girl screaming for help and banging on a door.

The video has since been removed by Facebook, according to the original poster, because it may have violated Meta's terms and conditions.

The video depicted a young girl on an enclosed porch beating on a door and yelling for help for nearly 30 seconds. Then a man appears on the porch, whom the girl didn't seem to want to be near. The man grabbed the child and took her off the porch.

Away from the camera's view, you can hear the child yelling and other noises, including a barking dog.

The original poster of the video indicated it may have happened Monday night. It doesn't appear anyone was home.

Decatur police posted on Facebook Tuesday morning that the child was safe and they are investigating.

Decatur Police Chief Brad Allen then posted a video Tuesday afternoon that again stated the child was safe and Illinois Children and Family Services is also investigating.

"The family has cooperated in this investigation," Allen said. "The girl is currently safe and a safety plan is in place to ensure she remains safe."

It's not clear what the relationship is between the man and the child, or whether either of them knew the people who lived in the house the girl went to for help.

Allen declined to speak further about the incident or provide more information regarding the investigation.