Missing boy found safe following significant search effort by Regina police and community members

Regina Police say about 80 officers helped search for a non-verbal eight-year-old boy reported missing yesterday. Mick Favel reports.

The Regina Police Service (RPS) is offering some insight into its efforts during the search for an 8-year-old earlier this week.

On Tuesday at 12:20 p.m., RPS received a call the boy was missing from a school on the 200 block of Hamilton Street.

Police were informed the child is non-verbal as well as not dressed for the cool weather.

“This young gentleman was wearing a t-shirt, pants and runners. The priority levels go up,” said Sgt. Andree Sieber, missing persons coordinator at RPS.

RPS set up a command centre, and additional resources were pulled in for the search. A special program used by police for missing person was also brought in.

The program created a detailed zoning map of where the boy might have gone and when.

Video surveillance from different sources also played a part in the search efforts, helping pinpoint exact times of when the boy left and where he was sighted.

“When you look at the map and the vast area that was searched, the main streets, back alleys, backyards. This was a huge investigation, and it wouldn’t be possible with[out] all our members,” Sieber said.

At approximately 5:48 p.m. the child was found near the intersection of Ross Avenue and Winnipeg Street, over a 1.5-kilometre distance from the school.

There were 80 RPS members who were involved in the search, as well as community partners who helped put out the emergency call. A number of tips were also called in which helped with the search.

“We had contacted everyone we could think of. Can companies, Regina Transit. I can’t thank our community partners enough,” Sieber said.

The boy was taken to the hospital where he was checked and was released in good conditions.

“The moment he was located, we were all holding our breath. We are so very grateful he was located,” Sieber said.