Officer Catches Child Thrown From OKC Apartment Window During Fire

A mother said she had to throw her son from the window of her second-story apartment to save him from an early morning fire. An Oklahoma City police officer then caught the child, who was uninjured.

According to the Oklahoma City Fire Department, at about 3 a.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a second alarm fire at the Brownstone Apartments, located at 2908 N.W. 28th Street.

Crews were able to put out the fire. One person was transported by EMSA due to smoke inhalation. 

One victim, Takia Harding, told News 9 she decided to throw her 2-year-old son from the window of her second-story apartment to save him from the flames. She said when she saw two police officers, she yelled for them to come catch her son.

“My first thinking when I first got up was, “OK, I see flames. OK momma, get up.’ I grabbed my son. I saw the police. I started screaming. I said, ‘Can you please catch my son? I’m about to drop him out this window, so he can at least be alright right now,’" Harding said.

Sgt. Dave Hollis reportedly ripped down the fence while Officer Anthony Glover ran inside to catch the toddler from the second story window. The child was not injured.

"They caught him and he was alright, and they finally got to us. I just made sure my mom got out before me. I thought about my mom and my son before me. But it's good by the grace of God that he woke us up just in time," Harding said. 

Officials said the fire has been ruled as accidental. It began due to residents using candles for their light source.  They had just moved in and hadn’t gotten the electricity turned on yet. 

According to the fire department, eight units were affected by the fire. But electricity was shut off to the entire building. So in all, the Red Cross helped relocate 37 residents. 

The fire caused about $250,000 in damage to the structure, and an additional $150,000 in damage to personal contents.