What started as an ordinary day at a Friendship-area home turned into a moment of panic when a grandfather called for help after his grandson managed to cuff himself with no key in sight.
Scioto County Sheriff’s deputies were contacted after the worried grandparent reported that the child had found an old set of handcuffs and locked them on himself. With visions of a jailbreak gone wrong, a deputy responded to see if the cuffs could be safely removed.
Once on scene, officers quickly realized this wasn’t a real police restraint — it was an old metal toy handcuff set, the kind that comes with its own oversized toy key rather than a standard handcuff key. Unfortunately, the key was nowhere to be found.
Family members believed they could likely slide the cuffs off using lubricant. If that didn’t work, the plan was to carefully cut them off to avoid injuring the child. No one was hurt, and the situation was resolved without further incident.
A Good Reminder for Parents & Grandparents
This lighthearted call has a serious takeaway:
- Check old toy boxes and storage bins. Vintage toy handcuffs and “cop gear” can be surprisingly sturdy.
- Keep small restraints, locks, and keys out of reach of curious kids.
- Don’t force anything off. If a child is stuck, forcing cuffs or rings can cause swelling or injury.
- Call for help early. Firefighters, medics, or deputies would much rather help with a minor mishap than treat a serious injury later.
While this call ended safely — and with a story the family will probably tell for years — it’s a reminder that kids + old toys + curiosity can turn into an unexpected emergency in seconds.
