K-9 Ruger Tracks Missing Autistic Teen to Florida Parking Lot

A police K-9 named Ruger located a missing autistic teenager in a Jacksonville, Florida, parking lot on April 21, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.

The search began after the boy disappeared from his home. Officer Chris Havens and his partner Ruger took up the trail using the teen’s sock as a scent source.

Body camera footage showed Ruger pulling officers through brush to the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Ryar Road. Officers then heard the boy screaming for help from a nearby business lot.

“You did a good job calling us over," an officer told the teen in the video. "When you see the police, you say something to them."

"We're glad we found you, we were getting really worried," the officer added.

The boy received a medical checkup before reuniting with his family.

"When your loved one goes missing, we deploy our best tools to find them quickly and safely," the sheriff’s office said.

Ruger received a chew toy as a reward. Police said the dog earned his favorite toy and plenty of praise because he led officers close to the missing teen.