A big-hearted Texas police officer played Santa Claus this week when he issued a ticket to a financially-strapped father — and tucked a $100 bill into it to help him make ends meet.
Christmas came early for Hayden Carlo after he was pulled over by a traffic cop in downtown Plano for driving with an expired registration.
When the officer asked why he hadn’t renewed, Carlo, 25, could offer no excuse other than that things were tight over the holiday season.
“I said ‘there’s no explanation for why I haven’t done it, except I don’t have the money’ I said ‘it was either feed my kids or get my registration done,’’’ he told
KTVT-TV.
But the married father-of-two could never in a million years have imagined what would happen next.
When the cop handed over the summons there was a $100 bill tucked into the envelope along with it.
The unexpected gesture of kindness had Carlo bursting into tears.
“He helped me out when I needed it and I appreciate that. I’ll never forget that man. It definitely restored my faith in God,’’ Carlo told the station.
Carlo was able to renew the registration on his car, as well as the registration on his wife’s car, with the money.
The officer asked to remain anonymous, but Plano police spokesman David Tilley said his gesture “was the right thing to do.’’
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