Harlingen officer recognized for saving unresponsive toddler

HARLINGEN, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — The Harlingen Police Officer who saved an unresponsive 15-month-old girl was recognized for his heroic action on Wednesday.

Officer Nicolas Castillo was first on the scene in response to an unresponsive toddler at The Little Red Schoolhouse Daycare in Harlingen. Castillo immediately started CPR, until EMS arrived and took over.

Castillo wears a lot of hats including, officer, husband, dad and tonight, hero.

Castillo feels he was at the right place at the right time on June 27. He heard the call over the radio and immediately responded.

“But we do have the computers, you know, where we see each call come out, I just happen to click on it, you know, see, you know, what the call was automatically, you know, advise dispatch, you know, I’m gonna go and I’m gonna go see what’s going on,” he said.

Upon arrival, he saw the 15-month-old toddler, Raylani Camacho with blue lips, hands, feet and nose.

“When I get there, you know, that’s when I see one of the daycare workers holding the unresponsive little girl and I just do my best to, you know, administer first aid until EMS is able to get there.”

Further investigation revealed the toddler had been smothered by a caregiver at the facility.

Police identified the woman as 30-year-old San Benito resident Belinda Perez. She was charged with injury to a child. Perez was given a bond of $750,000 and an ankle monitor with conditions to keep away from daycares and children.

Perez picked her up out of the crib, covered her mouth, stopped her from breathing and put her back in the crib.

“Everything happened so fast, you know, I wasn’t able to keep track of it. It felt like a lifetime, you know, and have that little girl just trying to help her survive until they get there.”

Castillo is a devout Christian and a dad to a little girl under two and felt God, his training and his little girl guided him through the chaotic situation.

“I saw my daughter in the little girl and you know, I was just doing whatever any other officer here you know, would do for anybody, especially in that situation,” he said.

Castillo was presented with the newly established “Mayor’s Hometown Hero Award” by the City of Harlingen.

Raylani’s mom calls Castillo a hero.

“I truly feel like God put these people in our path,” she said.

Raylani is now making a miraculous recovery after days in Valley Baptist Medical Center’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and was released on Wednesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KVEO-TV.