Residents in Encinitas looked to the sky yesterday as a sheriff's helicopter joined deputies on the ground in an urgent search for a missing 15-year-old boy identified only as Matthew.
The search was focused near the intersection of El Camino Norte and North Rancho Santa Fe Road, where authorities say the teen was last seen at about 6:10 p.m.
How The Search Unfolded
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office deployed its ASTREA air unit, which regularly assists with search-and-rescue and law-enforcement missions, to circle the area and broadcast information about the missing teen over loudspeakers.
While the helicopter scanned nearby hillsides and neighborhoods, deputies from the North Coastal Station worked the streets below, checking surrounding blocks and talking with residents. For more on the sheriff's aerial operations and local patrol coverage, visit the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.
Where Matthew Was Last Seen
Matthew was last seen around 6:10 PM Saturday near El Camino Norte and North Rancho Santa Fe Road. As the sheriff's helicopter broadcast a bulletin over the neighborhood, ground crews searched in the same area.
He was described as white, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown hair, and was last seen wearing a white shirt, black pants, and basketball shoes. Anyone who sees him or knows he whereabouts is urged to call 911, according to the Times of San Diego.
How To Help
Anyone with information is asked to contact 911 immediately. For local updates, the North Coastal Sheriff's Station, which serves Encinitas and nearby communities, can be reached at (760) 966-3500 and is listed online at the North Coastal Station.
