Police Thought Woman Was Being Uncooperative Until She Silently Mouthed 2 Words: 'Help Me'

It’s hard to imagine how we’d respond in a terrifying situation, but an Atlanta woman who was being held hostage had the foresight and mouthed the words “help me” in order to communicate the nature of her situation. 

When reports directed police officers to a Piedmont Avenue apartment in Northeast Atlanta at the end of January, they knew they were responding to a domestic dispute. They’d been told that a woman and her child were being “held against their will.”

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However, upon arrival, the alleged abuse victim seemed to be uncooperative.

Woman Mouthed 'Help Me' To Police

Domestic abuse calls can be complicated. With loved ones and conflicting emotions involved, they are rarely straightforward. In fact, according to FindLaw, eighty to ninety percent of domestic violence victims recant their claims after police have been called. While they cannot drop domestic violence charges once the police are involved and the state files charges, they quite often choose to change or withdraw their original statements.

It appeared that the victim on Piedmont might have been protecting her abuser. She refused to allow police officers into her home, and she refused to leave. However, she mouthed the words “help me,” indicating her very real need for help.      

The suspect in the case is 34-year-old Andre Ross. He is believed to be the child’s father, and he has multiple felony warrants. Police reported to ABC News that his alleged crimes include armed robbery, weapons-related offenses, obstruction, and probation violations.  

Police officers recognized the silent signal and set up a perimeter around the building. SWAT and hostage negotiators responded to the scene. They “were able to talk him [Andre Ross] into surrendering without further incident,” according to police.

Charged with false imprisonment, authorities took the suspect to the Fulton County Jail, and, fortunately, the woman and child left the apartment with police and went to a safe location. 

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Thankfully, the woman responded in a way that kept both her and the child safe and still made police aware of the frightening events taking place within the home.     

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,” Proverbs 3:13

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h/t: ABC News

Featured Image Credit: ABC News

Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at https://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.