K-9 Ruger finds missing autistic teenager in Jacksonville parking area

Heroic K-9 Helps Find Missing Autistic Teen in Florida

Good job, Luger! A courageous police dog found a missing autistic teenager in a Florida parking lot by using his keen sense of smell, leading the police to the boy in need.

The search began on April 21 when the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported a young boy had gone missing from his home.

K-9 Luger, alongside Officer Chris Havens, quickly joined the search. The police noted that Luger detected the scent from the boy’s socks and started to track him down.

Body camera footage recorded the tense moments of the rescue, showcasing Luger pulling his handler through the brush and guiding him to a location near Beach Boulevard and Lyer Road.

Things took a positive turn when the police heard the boy’s cries for help from a nearby business.

In the video, one officer can be heard reassuring the boy, saying, “You did a great job. If I see the police, I’ll say something.” The relieved boy responded, “I’m glad you found me. I was getting really worried.”

After being checked over, the boy was happily reunited with his anxious family. The police remarked, “If your loved one goes missing, we deploy the best tools to find them quickly and safely.”