A quiet pre-dawn hour on El Paso’s West Side turned tense early Sunday when an unaccompanied young child was found wandering near Mesa Street and Castellano Drive. By the end of the day, that scare had turned into a rare feel-good story, as police confirmed the child was safely reunited with their parents after a fast-moving flurry of public tips.
Police: Public Tips Led To Quick Reunion
The El Paso Police Department said officers found the child around 5 a.m. Sunday, and placed the youngster in protective custody while investigators worked to track down a parent or guardian. According to KFOX, the department took the search public on X and later posted, “The child found near Mesa/Castellano this morning is now safe. THANK YOU, EL PASO!” Officials credited residents and local media for rapidly sharing the alert and helping speed up the identification.
Tips And Who To Call
Investigators reminded the public that anyone with information in similar situations can contact the Crimes Against Children Unit at 915-494-3254 or the El Paso Police Department non-emergency line at 915-832-4400. Anonymous tips can also be sent to Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS). Coverage from KTSM and other outlets confirmed the child was reunited with their parents later Sunday.
Investigation Ongoing
The case remains under review by the department’s Crimes Against Children Unit, which is working to determine how the child ended up alone on the West Side in the first place. KFOX reported that no additional details have been released.
