Resisting temptation: Boys turn in wallet with $782 cash
<p>Michael Williams, left and Zachary Enderson stand at the intersection of Third and Bay in Post Falls where they found a wallet containing credit cards, over $700 and other items. The two eleven year old boys turned the wallet into the police and it was returned to the rightful owner.</p>
<p>Michael Williams, left and Zachary Enderson stand at the intersection of Third and Bay in Post Falls where they found a wallet containing credit cards, over $700 and other items. The two eleven year old boys turned the wallet into the police and it was returned to the rightful owner.</p>
POST FALLS - Zachary Endreson and Michael Williams couldn't believe what they found in the middle of busy Third Avenue on Monday night.
The 11-year-old boys were walking on a sidewalk toward Zachary's house near Bay Street when they spotted a wallet in the middle of the road.
But this wasn't just any wallet. It had $782 inside, the owner's driver's license, Social Security number and credit cards.
"I looked and there was a bunch of money inside," said Michael, adding that it was just starting to turn dark outside when they found the wallet. "I was thinking that, if that would have been me, I would have been mad that I lost that much money."
Zachary said the two pondered placing the wallet on the sidewalk, thinking the owner may return to get it. But the two then concluded that it would be best to give it to Zachary's father, Jeff.
The lost wallet was then reported to the Post Falls Police Department, which contacted the owner and returned it to him.
The Post Falls 20-year-old male, who lives in a different part of Post Falls than where his wallet was found, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. As of Tuesday night, the boys hadn't been contacted by the owner and thanked, but they said they weren't necessarily expecting that either.
The boys' parents said they were proud of their sons by being responsible and turning the wallet in so police could contact the owner.
"I'm just glad that they made the right choice," said Jeff Endreson, Zachary's dad. "That's quite a bit of money to be tempted about. They let me know when they got to our house that they found a wallet so we contacted police and turned it in."
Endreson said he's thankful, but not surprised the boys made the right choice.
"That's the way I was brought up and I've been trying to teach my kids the same way," he said. "I think they understand the value of a dollar. They work for things they get."
Brian Wilhelm, Michael's dad, said he called Michael from work to tell him how proud he was of him.
"He said, 'Dad, that's a lot of money and that man must be sad to lose that much," Wilhelm said.
Samantha Williams, Michael's mother, said she first heard about the find from a police officer, not her son.
"I was shocked at first to get a call from a police officer, then the officer told me what had happened," Williams said. "I'm very proud of both of them."
Post Falls Police Capt. Greg McLean called it a "rarity" these days when wallets are returned with the cash still in them after they are lost.
"These boys showed great integrity," McLean said. "As a parent, you hope your kids do the right thing, but that doesn't always happen. It was a proud moment for their parents."
Jeff Endreson said the boys commented about how they were pleased that they turned in the wallet.
"Both of them said it feels good to do the right thing," he said.