Relief swept through the Carmel community as the local police department confirmed that the 16-year-old boy, Justin Vandewalle, who had been reported missing, was found safe. Drawing upon the collective power of social media and citizen engagement, the search for the young individual spanned a distressed yet hopeful community, culminating in success.
The Carmel Police Department had shared an alert on their Facebook page, providing a detailed description of Justin's appearance, including his height at 5'11", a weight of 140 lbs, and his distinctive black hair and brown eyes; this alert was shared extensively, urging the public to keep an eye out for him. He was last sighted in the vicinity of E 116th St and Rangeline Rd adorned in a white dress shirt, black slacks, complemented with glasses and a black puffy coat, according to the Carmel Police Department's post.
Carmel Police's prompt update to their earlier appeal helped assuage the concerned citizens, revealing scant yet reassuring words: "Justin has been located and is safe."
