Union County deputies spent Tuesday night combing a quiet subdivision for a young boy who was spotted walking alone in the dark, then ran off before anyone could help him. The child, described as Hispanic and about 5 years old, was last seen near Rogers Road and William Clark Trail in the Meriwether neighborhood around 10:20 p.m.
According to WBTV, officials say the boy ran away when a witness who spotted him tried to approach, and he was gone by the time deputies arrived. As qcnews.com reports, the sheriff's office described him as having dark curly hair and wearing a red long-sleeve shirt, blue shorts and white shoes.
Searchers Working Without a Name or a Photo
What makes this search unusually difficult is how little investigators have to go on. The sheriff's office says it does not know the child's name or home address, and deputies have not been given a photograph of him, according to the same report.
To cover that gap, deputies have leaned on technology and manpower rather than a face to search for. Crews are using K-9 units, drone teams and neighborhood canvassing as they work through the Meriwether subdivision, the outlet notes, and residents in the area may notice an increase in deputies and search teams moving through their streets in the coming hours.
No Threat to the Community, Officials Say
Despite the unsettling image of a small child alone on neighborhood streets at night, the sheriff's department has stressed that there is no reason for residents to be alarmed for their own safety. Officials say there is currently no indication of any threat to the surrounding community, with their stated priority being to find the boy and confirm he is safe.
Anyone with information about the child or his whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately, per the sheriff's office. As of the latest reporting, it remains unclear who the boy is, where he lives, or how he came to be walking alone in the neighborhood.
