Video of CT state trooper helping driver with autism goes viral - driver credits "Fridays with Frank" for staying calm | Law Enforcement Today

STERLING, CT - The interaction between a Connecticut State Trooper (CSP) and a driver with autism has sparked attention after a video of what transpired between the two has gone viral. 

According to the ctpost, Blake Lagerstrom, a Connecticut resident, was driving home from work one day when his usual route was cut off by a road closure. Lagerstrom, a blogger, posted the video of his interaction with Trooper Jordan Barile on April 4th. The video has since gone viral with over 2 millions views.

The video was from April 1st, when Lagerstrom was behind the wheel and talking on the phone with his dad. Barile's cruiser was blocking the road on Route 14-A due to a crash ahead. Seeing other cars pass him, Lagerstrom tried to go around the police vehicle, but immediately pressed the brakes. 

In the video, he can be heard asking Barile for instructions on how to back up and turn around. While speaking with Barile, Lagerstrom told her that he has autism. Feeling nervous and anxious about being stuck and not knowing exactly how to maneuver the car, Barile helped calm Lagerstrom down during the stop.

She said to him, "Break for a second, take a breath. Take a breath, you're OK." As he apologized repeatedly, Barile never missed a beat, saying, "Look at me. We're not in any trouble, OK?" She then introduced herself as Jordan and explained to him in a calm voice to turn around in the bearby driveway and then drive back the way he came.

At the end of the video she said, "Alright, bud. Good job. Stay calm, OK?" In an interview with WFSB, which aired a week after the video was posted, Lagerstrom said he was worried that he had done something wrong, but did his best to remain calm. Barile, who had recently come back from maternity leave, said she was just doing her job.

She said, "It seemed like he was stressed out. That's when the mom in me came out. He did a great job. This interaction, I give him all the credit for it." TikTok users praised Braile's kindness, professionalism, and gentle demeanor in the comments. Some thanked Lagerstrom for sharing the video and raising awareness about autism. 

CT State Police Troop D Danielson wrote on Facebook, "Trooper Barile is one of our best. She is one of the primary Field Training Officers at Troop-D and she instills this level of professionalism and compassion into all of our new Troopers." 

In the caption of his TikTok video, Lagerstrom said he wanted to post the interaction for Autism Awareness Month, which aims to foster and understanding and acceptance for individuals with autism. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people communicate, learn, behave, and socialize. 

In his caption, Lagerstrom said that he learned how to interact with law enforcement and "remain calm" from watching the YouTube series "Fridays with Frank." Lagerstrom said that he took a break from posting his usual content, which includes vacations and reviews of movies, TV shows, and books to share the interaction with Barile. 

Lagerstrom has been driving for a few years now, and always does so with the dash cam and on the phone with a family member, just in case. Lagerstrom told his followers, "There is hope for autistic people. And the problem needs to be fully understood and brought to an even broader awareness level."