Lake County Officers Find Missing Autistic Boy Friday Unharmed
At approximately 2:30 PM, Friday, June 10, 2022 a family member reported a missing 11-year-old male, according to Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez. The caller stated that the child had autism and was believed to have walked away from a home in St. John Township. The caller was especially concerned because of a nearby retention pond. Officers worked with neighbors and began an extensive search of the area where the child was last seen, Martinez said.
A little over 20 minutes later, at about 2:53 PM, a Lake County Sheriff’s Department police officer spotted the child hiding behind a bush, and he began to run. Two Lake County officers were able to corner the child and coax him to get into a police patrol car. The child was checked by paramedics and was expected to be returned to his family.
“I am extremely proud of the dedication and professionalism this officer showed in helping to bring a happy end to this situation. I congratulate and thank all officers and law enforcement agencies involved in the search, as well as members of the community who pulled together to help during this emergency. This is the kind of cooperation and compassion that makes Lake County a wonderful place to live,” Martinez stated.
