HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies found a missing 8-year-old boy with autism safe Thursday night near his home.
At around 9:23 p.m., the sheriff’s office’s helicopter unit helped deputies on the ground find the boy who had been reported missing, according to an X post from the agency.
In the video, the helicopter tracked heat signatures coming from two trash bins on the side of a house’s driveway in a neighborhood.
“I got a hot spot I need you guys to check out. Something behind a trash can, two trash cans,” the helicopter pilot said.
Deputies on the ground turned around from their location and walked toward the two trash bins, finding the boy sitting on his knees in the grass.
“Hey! How are you?” a deputy asked the boy.
He was soon reunited with his family, deputies said.
“I am incredibly proud of the teamwork between our aviation unit and our deputies on the ground. Knowing that the child was swiftly reunited with his family fills me with pride,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister.
