A 15-year-old boy who left his home early Tuesday, February 11, 2025, was safely located in San Diego and reunited with his parents after a coordinated response from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and San Diego Police Department.
Deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to a runaway juvenile report at 6:16 a.m.on February 11 in the 2600 block of Desoto Road in El Mirage. The boy’s father reported that his son had left their home around 4 a.m., taking his parents’ vehicle, passport, and money. In a text message, the juvenile stated he was heading to Mexico.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy C. Padilla contacted the teen by phone and learned that he was driving in San Diego. After speaking with the deputy, the boy agreed to pull over and provided his location. San Diego Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene, where they stayed with the juvenile until his parents arrived to take him home.
Authorities credited the quick actions of the boy’s family and the coordinated law enforcement response for preventing him from crossing the Mexico border. Law enforcement officials also emphasized that there is no waiting period to report a missing person and encouraged families to contact authorities immediately when a loved one is unaccounted for.
