Goodman Police Chief releases statement on interaction with mother and 11-year-old autistic son

Chief Brian Ledford of the Goodman Police Department recently released an information providing a description of an interaction with a mother and her family on an I-49 on-ramp on August 24, 2026.

The letter reads as follows:

"Citizens of Goodman and Citizens of McDonald County,

My name is Brian Ledford, Chief of Police for the Goodman Police Department. I want to provide the citizens of Goodman and McDonald County with information regarding an incident that occurred on August 24, 2026, in the area of South Highway 59 and the northbound on-ramp to Interstate 49.

At approximately 12:27 p.m., I, along with the McDonald County Sheriff's Office, were dispatched to that area reference to a reported possible physical disturbance. McDonald County Dispatch advised that a mother and child were involved in an altercation. Dispatch further advised that the child had reportedly told a passerby, "Help me, she is going to kill me."

I arrived at the scene a few minutes later and observed a juvenile sitting on the northbound I-49 on-ramp. A female, later identified as the juvenile's mother, was standing behind him and speaking with a woman who had stopped to assist.

I initially asked the mother what had occurred. She began providing an account of events that had taken place throughout the day. Because the incident was occurring in an area with significant traffic, including tractor-trailers entering the I-49 on-ramp, I asked the mother to explain what had occurred immediately prior to our arrival so officers could determine how best to address the situation.

The mother became upset and requested that another officer speak with her. I advised her that a McDonald County Deputy Sheriff was enroute and would be speaking with her.

While waiting for the deputy to arrive, I observed another young juvenile with their upper body outside the driver's-side window of the mother's vehicle while vehicles were passing in close proximity. Due to the potential danger to the children, I requested that the mother move her vehicle farther onto the on-ramp to provide a safer location.

After the vehicle was moved, the McDonald County Deputy Sheriff, Deputy J. Shepherd, arrived and requested that the mother speak with him away from the juvenile in an effort to keep the situation calm.

When the juvenile observed his mother walking away with the deputy, the 11-year-old juvenile, who is reportedly autistic, began acting in an aggressive manner. During the incident, the juvenile picked up a rock, just larger than a half-dollar, and threw it at me. The rock struck me in the chest.

However, after considering the juvenile's age and reported autism, officers initially considered using wrist restraints to prevent the juvenile from causing further injury to himself or others. However, after considering the juvenile's age and autism, officers did not immediately use wrist restraints. I instead requested that the deputy speak with the mother near the juvenile in an effort to keep both the mother and child calm."