It was a happy ending to a story we reported here Tuesday night, when a missing boy returned safely to his residence after the community, and multiple agencies including the Police Department, Sheriff’s Department and Search and Rescue launched a full-scale search in uptown Susanville.
Word of the boy’s disappearance was quickly spread through social media and the internet, prompting volunteers to brave the single-digit temperatures and help look for the boy.
According to details in a report filed today by Susanville Police Lieutenant Matt Wood, at around 7:30 Tuesday evening officers from the department responded to a report of a missing 10 year-old boy. Officers spoke with the missing child’s mother, who reported that her son had gone to an unknown friend’s house at approximately 3:00p.m. and he was supposed to return home at 5:00.
Word of the incident, as well as a picture of the boy, were posted on Facebook by a family member seeking the public’s assistance and many people posted responses in support of the family, offering information that they thought might be useful to the search. As a result of the internet posting uptown Susanville soon filled with people ready to search.
“The outpouring of community support last night was impressive. I want to thank all of those who sent the family positive comments and prayers, and supported the search effort. Susanville is a great community to serve,”said Police Chief Tom Downing.
Lieutenant Wood thanked the agencies and people that came together to assist in the search; Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, Lassen County Search and Rescue, The Susanville Fire Department, The California Highway Patrol, canine tracking units from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and numerous citizens who volunteered their time.