Florida police rescue kids holding ‘help us’ sign in the window during a domestic incident

Kissimmee police rescued four children from the Flora Ridge Condominiums on October 26 after one child held up a "HELP US" sign to alert authorities during a domestic incident involving 33-year-old Andre Janard Smithson. While Smithson refused to let the children or a woman leave the property, a drone located the children hiding in a room before they eventually escaped while he was distracted. Smithson, who claims the argument was only verbal, has been charged with false imprisonment and remains in the Osceola County jail.

Written by AI on 2026-11-13, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Police in Kissimmee, Florida, rescued four children from a residence at the Flora Ridge Condominiums during a domestic disturbance on October 26. The rescue occurred after family members contacted the Kissimmee Police expressing fear that 33-year-old Andre Janard Smithson would not allow the children to leave the property. While authorities initially received no response from inside the home, they eventually deployed a drone to locate the children hiding in a room. At that moment, one child held up a sign in a window that read “HELP US” to alert the officers. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WTSP, Smithson was in the master bedroom with an unnamed woman and their 5-month-old daughter at the time. The woman had previously informed her sister that Smithson was “beating” her. During the standoff, Smithson communicated with authorities via phone but refused to let the mother or the children exit the home.

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Family members told police that they were worried that Smithson would not let the children leave, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by WTSP.

2026-11-12 · assertive framing · Florida police rescue kids holding ‘help us’ sign in the window during a domestic incident

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Jonathan Chapman, who lives near the apartment complex, told News 6 that he had noticed a large police build-up in the area but did not know that the children were hiding inside the property.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-13

Family members told police that they were worried that Smithson would not let the children leave, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by WTSP.

2026-11-13 · The Independent

Florida police rescue kids holding ‘help us’ sign in the window during a domestic incident · assertive framing

Four children were rescued from a Florida home after one of them held up a sign to police reading “HELP US” during a domestic incident. asserted

one → rescue → incident

Kissimmee Police responded to the address at the Flora Ridge Condominiums after being contacted by family members concerned about the children’s safety. asserted

Police → respond → safety

Upon arriving at the scene, police say that they found a domestic disturbance involving 33-year-old Andre Janard Smithson. asserted

they → arrive → Smithson

Family members told police that they were worried that Smithson would not let the children leave, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by WTSP. uncertain

children → tell → WTSP

An adult woman inside the home had also told her sister that Smithson was “beating” her. asserted

Smithson → tell → her

However, police received no response when they tried to reach those inside the property during the incident on October 26. asserted

they → receive → October

Eventually, authorities deployed a drone which located the children hiding in a room, police say. asserted

police → deploy → room

That was when one child “bravely” held up the note to the window. asserted

child → hold → window

At the time, Smithson was in the property’s master bedroom with the unnamed woman and their 5-month-old daughter, the affidavit states. asserted

affidavit → state → woman

The 33-year-old communicated with authorities via the phone and refused requests to allow either the mom or the children to leave, cops said. asserted

cops → communicate → requests

While he was distracted, the children were able to escape the residence. asserted

children → distract → residence

Smithson surrendered and left the home after a SWAT team and crisis negotiators joined the operation, according to the affidavit. uncertain

team → surrender → affidavit

Speaking to officers, the mom said that she had been unable to escape after Smithson stood in the way of the door. asserted

Smithson → speak → door

She told authorities that the argument had been verbal and not physical, something Smithson has also claimed. asserted

Smithson → tell → authorities

Smithson has been charged with false imprisonment and remains behind bars at the Osceola County jail, according to records obtained by The Independent. uncertain

Smithson → charge → Independent

He also has an outstanding warrant, police have revealed. asserted

police → have → warrant

Speaking to investigators, he claimed he wanted to see his daughter before heading to jail. asserted

he → speak → jail

Jonathan Chapman, who lives near the apartment complex, told News 6 that he had noticed a large police build-up in the area but did not know that the children were hiding inside the property. asserted

children → live → property

“I didn’t step outside or anything; I just looked through the balcony and saw the cops,” he said. asserted

he → step → cops

“It’s heartbreaking for the kids.” asserted

It → ’ → kids

The Independent has contacted the Kissimmee Police Department for further comment on the incident. asserted

Independent → contact → incident

Florida police rescue kids holding ‘help us’ sign in the window during a domestic incident

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