Video Goes Viral After Police Officer Plays Hopscotch With Homeless Girl

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- A video of a cop and a homeless girl has been viewed more than a million times online in just a few days. And now, because of it, the California police officer is earning the name of "Cop-Scotch."

Huntington Beach Police Officer Zach Pricer is an imposing force. He's a member of the SWAT team, a mixed martial artist, and apparently a pretty good hopscotch player.

A suspicious vehicle was reported to police and it turned out that vehicle belonged to a homeless mother and her 11-year-old daughter, who were living in the van in a local park.

Pricer told CBS2's Carter Evans the situation is "heartbreaking" and it was his job to make sure she was okay.

"In order for me to do that I have to get her to talk to me. I have to get her to be able to trust me... and it's not easy for a child of any age to look up to a scary looking me and be comfortable," he said.

Pricer thought a game of hopscotch might help break the ice. The tender moment, that was also meant to be a distraction, was recorded by Officer Joel Petersen.

"It was at a time when the mom was sharing really intimate details about their circumstances and often times just our presence can be kind of traumatic for little ones and we don't want them to associate police officers with seeing mom cry," Petersen said.

When the Huntington Beach police department posted the video on its Facebook page earlier this week, the response was overwhelming.

"It's a good thing... if it takes me looking like a oaf trying to play hopscotch to shine a positive light on law enforcement and all my brothers and sisters all over the nation, I'll take the heat," Pricer said.