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The post, which the department said it became aware of on Tuesday, Feb. 25, showed a police vehicle parked in front of a disabled car on Englewood Avenue but failed to include key details, the department said in a statement.
Officers were on patrol when they came across a disabled vehicle that had run out of fuel, the EPD's post says. A second officer arrived for backup, and the officers decided to move the car to the curb to avoid a traffic hazard while the driver waited for assistance, police said.
As the officers attempted to roll the vehicle back to the curb, the first patrol car was moved in front to clear space, police said. However, the driver was unable to shift the car into neutral, leaving it stuck in place.
While officers were trying to troubleshoot the issue, Englewood police received a report of an armed individual inside a local business, authorities said. Given the urgent nature of that call, one of the officers on scene left immediately to respond, police said.
It was around this time that the photos, which later gained traction online, were taken, police said.
Shortly afterward, a passerby stepped in to assist and helped put the car into neutral. As the vehicle rolled backward toward the curb, the good Samaritan used his knees to push it into place, officials said.
The Englewood Police Department said the viral post painted a misleading picture of the incident.
“We always encourage our residents to reach out with any questions or concerns to avoid misinformation or misconceptions,” the department said in its statement.
The department also stressed its commitment to serving the community, encouraging dialogue over social media outrage.
“Simple conversations, instead of knee-jerk social media posts, can go a long way and help strengthen our relationships rather than deteriorate them," the statement read.
Englewood police said officers wear many hats, but automotive mechanic isn’t one of them.
Authorities did not disclose further details about the armed individual report that prompted the officers to leave the scene.
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