Hero Westland Cop Buys Child Car Seat For Broke Dad He Pulled Over

WESTLAND (WWJ) - A motorist expecting the worst couldn't believe what happened when he was pulled for his tinted windows Westland.

LaVonte Dell, a black man, said it went nothing like he thought it would after a white police officer approached his car.

The cop asked Dell why he didn't have his 3-year-old daughter in a child car seat. Dell told him that money was just too tight.

"Do you know, this white police officer told me to follow him to Walmart on Ford Road and he purchased my daughter a car seat with his own money," Dell wrote in a Facebook post. "If you would've seen us in Walmart you would have through we were best friends."

The lesson here, Dell says: Never judge a book by its cover.

Dell wanted to thank the officer, but was speechless and forgot to ask his name.

When the Facebook post was shared with police, the officer was identified as Josh Scaglione, who's been on the force for less than a year.

"(Dell) sounds like it was extremely, deeply touched by Officer Scaglione's efforts to improve things for him and his family," Westland Police Sgt. Robert Wilkie told told WWJ's Laura Bonnell.

Wilkie said they're proud of the rookie.

"Officer Scaglione reached into his own pocket and made a contribution to LaVonte's family; and, judging by what he wrote on Facebook, it was taken extremely well," Wilkie said.

"It's a big deal when an officer — whether he's been here a year or he's been here 20 years — is recognized for making such a contribution. It shows where Officer Scaglione's heart is, and what his intention is on becoming a police officer. It's clearly to serve the public and make a difference."

On Wednesday, messages of support for the act of kindness were pouring in on the Westland Police Community Partnership Facebook page.

Chuck Hughes posted: "BIG THANKS to both of you...LaVonte for sharing your story, and Officer Scaglione for reminding all of us that there is an easier softer way of doing things ... ALL LIVES MATTER!"

Angela Roberts added: "Let's make this go national!! These stories are the types of stories that should be heard...they happen more often than the highly publicized negative events!"