Four officers were about to go on their lunch break in Hernando, Mississippi when they spotted a gentleman sitting outside a local Wendy’s.
Sergeant David McCoy of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department was on the way to lunch with his fellow officers when they spotted Dan Williams outside Wendy’s.
“I noticed a gentleman sitting on the curb with his face in his lap so I decided to go over there and talk to him, and see if he’s ok,” Sgt. McCoy told InsideEdition.com. “He began to tell me that he had been hitchhiking from Ohio.”
When they sat down to eat, that’s when Sgt. McCoy found out Dan had been visiting his elderly parents in Ohio.
And now, he needs to go to Monroe, Louisiana, to his sister and look for work.
But he had spent all of his money in Ohio and he had no phone and money to travel the 275 miles from Ohio to Louisiana.
So he hitchhiked his way down. He had finally reached Mississippi but had been there for more than a week already.
He couldn’t travel because it was too hot, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
He needed to go to Tennessee but since he didn’t have any money and it was illegal to hitchhike in the state, he had no choice but to walk.
But the extreme temperature was making it difficult and he was going to watch until it cools down. He couldn’t walk at night as well for safety reasons.
That’s why it was a good decision to be outside Wendy’s at that time for Dan. Or he wouldn’t have met these four officers.
Dan had no idea things would take a good turn for him when he stumbled on that Wendy’s store.
When Wendy’s staff heard his story, they paid his food for him.
“He seemed like a nice gentleman, maybe a little down on his luck right now,” Sgt. McCoy said. “We couldn’t let him hitchhike from there.”
And Sgt. McCoy and his fellow officers, Deputy Hunter Garrett, Deputy Thomas Brea, and Deputy Bryan Andrews, were moved by his determination that they decided to pool their money together to help him out.
They bought him an $89 bus ticket plus $60 for food in case he goes hungry while waiting for his bus.
And they even drove him to the Greyhound bus terminal in nearby Memphis, Tennessee so he can board the bus to get him to his final destination.
“It’s not all about writing people tickets, taking people to jail,” Sgt. McCoy said. “We’re here to help.”
And the viewers really shared their appreciation for what these police officers did for Dan.
“Glad to hear from the good side of people. These days all we seem to hear about is bad news. Well done,” Tanya Knipe said.
“Peace be upon you…and I salute you for your kindness to helping others ..your action put me into smile and glad there is some go officers out there to help one and another,” Jake Winterz added.
“aww that’s so sweet wish all cops were like him,” Stephany Mariah commented.
Dan kept in touch with Sgt. McCoy a few days later. Dan told him that he had already rested and he was now ready to look for a painter or carpentry job available.
Want to meet Sgt. McCoy and Dan? Watch the video below.
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