The Jacksonville community is currently rallying to locate a missing 14-year-old boy with autism. Leland "Mikey" Scales was last seen around 11 p.m. yesterday in the 7100 block of Natal Avenue.. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, deeply concerned due to the boy's autism, is spearheading the search and has reached out to the public for assistance, as per Action News Jax.
According to News4Jax, Leland Scales, also known as Mikey, vanished under unclear circumstances but was seen several hours after his last confirmed sighting, between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. heading east on West Beaver Street, notable for the orange and black backpack he was carrying. He stood 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, and the specific details of his appearance, such as blue eyes and blonde hair, and the fact that he was wearing a black Spider-Man T-shirt and black basketball shorts, are hoped to prompt recognition from the community.
The urgency of finding Leland is compounded by his autism—a detail that underscores the vulnerability inherent in his disappearance. First Coast News shares the concern of law enforcement officials and the boy's family, emphasizing that due to his condition, finding him quickly is of the utmost importance.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help to both broadcast Leland's description and encourage reports of any sightings. "It is unclear when he left the residence, but he was seen on foot between 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. in the 6900 block of West Beaver Street, heading east while carrying an orange and black backpack," detailed by First Coast News' report. Anyone with information related to Leland's whereabouts is being urged to come forward and contact the local authorities to aid, in the return of this young teen to his family.
