Columbus police rescued a 12-year-old autistic child who waded into a retention pond Sunday afternoon.

Officers were called to the area of Lockerbie Drive and 25th Street on reports of a child running near traffic at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police. Capt. Brian Wilder was off duty but in the area, when he saw the child run toward a nearby neighborhood and enter a retention pond in the 5000 block of Victory Drive.

Wilder and Officer Tony Kummer took flotation bags into the water to rescue the child, who is reportedly autistic.  The child was unharmed.

Harris sad that officers take training each year on how to interact with people who have autism.  He praised the quick actions of the officers who kept the child safe.