Missing autistic teen found safe not far from Crestview home
CRESTVIEW — The search for a missing autistic child that began Friday night in the vicinity of Shoffner Boulevard ended Saturday afternoon when Aiden Howey was found safe.
"We’re happy to let you know that OCSO deputies say missing autistic 14-year old Aiden Howey of Crestview has now been located not far from his home and is safe and uninjured," said Michele Nicholson, Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office public information officer.
Original story
CRESTVIEW — A search for a missing autistic child that began Friday night in the vicinity of Shoffner Boulevard was continuing Saturday afternoon.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that K9's from the Okaloosa Correctional Institution had established a partial track for missing Aiden Howey overnight, but lost it about 3 a.m. Aiden had left his home about 6:30 p.m. Friday.
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"Family members and citizens joined together this morning to work to help locate the teen," according to the news release, issued Saturday.
It said the Sheriff's Office also had deployed drones in hopes of locating the youth, who his family said is high functioning but likely to run if someone spots him and shouts out his name.
The release said Aiden has ventured out before to roam nearby woods and wander into outlying buildings such as sheds.
Aiden left his home wearing a gray T-shirt with a Batman logo, gray and black jogging pants and white Nike tennis shoes, the release said. Anyone seeing him or with information is asked to immediately call the Sheriff's Office.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Crestview, Florida officials find missing autistic boy safe, uninjured
