Overview
- Fort Pierce police responded to a missing-teen report at the 2700 block of U.S. Highway 1 at about 4:21 p.m. Monday.
- Security video from a nearby gas station and a bystander’s sighting indicated the boy was heading toward the railroad tracks.
- Port St. Lucie Police deployed bloodhound K-9 Hoot just after 6 p.m., with body camera video showing the track underway around 6:30 p.m.
- Officers using foot patrols and a drone found the boy in a wooded area by the tracks just before 7 p.m., and he had only minor scrapes before being reunited with family.
- Police said the child, who has autism, vanished near a gym before being located about a mile away, and K-9 Hoot has now helped find four missing children in two years.