Child reunited thanks to sheriff’s officers

Montgomery -- Orange County Sheriff’s Office personnel, both human and canine led to the safe recovery of a missing autistic child in the village of early on Monday, May 5.

At approximately 6:50 a.m. the sheriff’s office was requested by the village police department to assist in locating an 11-year-old boy, who left his residence at 5:40 a.m. and had not returned. Upon arrival at the residence, Deputy Brian Burger deployed K-9 Jett to conduct a search of the surrounding area.

K-9 Jett immediately picked up a scent trail behind the home, tracking through a wooded area. The dog displayed a distinct change in behavior near the tree line before continuing east through a valley behind the house. Moments later, K-9 Jett located the boy in a crouched position deep in thick brush. Deputy Burger notified assisting personnel, and Deputy Matt King safely retrieved Jaden from the dense vegetation.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of law enforcement, the boy was reunited with his mother without incident.

Sheriff Paul Arteta praised the professionalism of the deputies involved, saying, “This case highlights the invaluable service our K-9 teams provide to the community. The partnership between handlers and their K-9 partners is a critical asset in search-and-rescue operations. We are relieved that the boy was found safe and quickly returned to his family.”