On December 14, 2014 at approximately 11:24 a.m., Los Banos Police Communications received a call reporting a missing juvenile.
Police officers responded to the 1100 block of Illinois Avenue, where they were met by the father of a missing 14-year-old boy. The father told Police his child with Down Syndrome wandered away from their residence and was missing.
Officers began a search of the neighborhood and entered the juvenile into the missing persons system.
Los Banos Police, California Highway Patrol (CHP), Los Banos Fire Department, Cal Fire-Merced County Fire Department, and several volunteers were called upon to aid in the search for the missing juvenile. A CHP officer located the missing boy unharmed in the area of Ward Road and Pacheco Boulevard, nearly 2.5 miles from his home and about three hours after the boy was reported missing.
“The search for the missing boy involved the cooperation of state and local law enforcement, local and county fire personnel and community volunteers. We had no shortage of people wanting to help find this boy and that’s what makes Los Banos awesome!”
- Jason Hedden, Police Commander
To leave an anonymous crime tip call 209-827-7070 Ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or visit the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-855-725-2420, or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org
