The Eugene Police Department is actively searching for a missing child, Dakota James Erwin, and is requesting the community's assistance. According to an official release from the Eugene Police Department, Dakota, who is 12 years old but functions cognitively at the level of a six-year-old due to autism, was last seen leaving his home on Walnut Street earlier this morning.
Authorities are increasingly concerned for Dakota's well-being. In their efforts to quickly locate him, they are reaching out to the public to keep an eye out for the young boy. He left on an adult-sized mountain bike around 7 a.m. and has not been seen since. Dakota is described as a white male, standing about 5 feet tall, weighing approximately 90 pounds, with distinctive bright red medium-length curly hair. At the time of his disappearance, he was noticed to be wearing jeans and no shirt.
The Eugene Police Department urges anyone with information to immediately contact the EPD non-emergency line and reference the incident number 25-231844. They stress the importance of timely reporting to aid in the safe return of Dakota to his family.
