When police found 'missing' son, they stumbled on a secret Christmas plan

When 13-year-old Diauris Reed disappeared from his family's new Oklahoma City apartment, his mother, Sophia, panicked and called the police.

But Diauris wasn't in trouble. He wasn't up to no good. He was planning a Christmas surprise.

The Reed family had just spent all their money moving in, including all their Christmas money, which was used to pay the security deposit. And so the Reed children hatched a pan to make some money to buy their mom a Christmas gift.

Diauris, at the suggestion of his sister, had snuck out to go collect cans. When the police became involved after Diauris' mother reported him missing, things grew complicated.

"I was afraid he was going to get in trouble," Diauris' sister Deneisha told KFOR. "I was very afraid he was going to get in trouble. I just didn't want to say anything because it would blow the whole thing."

When Diauris saw the police officers, he came home and explained what he was doing.

"I just wanted to do something for my mama," Diauris said.

Diauris' thoughtfulness and his initiative touched the Oklahoma police. Officer Roland Russell rounded up his buddies on the force to help Diauris spread some Christmas cheer. The officers raised $800 and bought Christmas and housewarming gifts for the Reed family.

"There was so many knocks on my door, everybody just was knocking, just was knocking, and every time I opened my door it was the police, the police," Sophia Reed said.

"Most of the time when I see the police it's like, bad stuff," Diauris said. "Up here I guess it's changed, good."

The Reed family feels grateful.

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