A missing Hammond boy was found safe hiding behind a bush in an area near his home more than eight hours after he disappeared, police said.
Lt. Steven Kellogg, public information officer with the Hammond Police Department, said 9-year-old Anthony Mitchell was found safe by Police Officer David DeBoer Saturday after a community wide search effort
The boy, who has a cognitive disability, had been missing for more than eight hours after he ran from his home on Ruth Street near Calumet City at about 3 p.m. DeBoer discovered the boy shortly before midnight
“(DeBoer) was the one who located Anthony, but this was a community effort. We are so thankful for everyone who volunteered their time to find this young boy,” Kellogg said.
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Police Department and Porter County Sheriff Department assisted in the search with their respective K-9 units. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department provided aerial support with its helicopter.
Kellogg thanked officers who would not stop searching and the community at large for spreading the word and walking the streets in the rain to search for the child.
“It is truly inspiring to see how the residents from Hammond and Calumet City came together with law enforcement for a common goal. It really is the true meaning of community. We are proud to serve to you all,” he said.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
