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Search Continues For Missing Autistic Teen

Search Crews Looking For 15-Year-Old

POSTED: 11:02 am EDT August 27, 2004
UPDATED: 8:09 pm EDT August 27, 2004

Police are searching for a missing autistic teenager who disappeared in Millis, Mass., Thursday afternoon.

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NewsCenter 5's David Boeri reported that officials are searching for 15-year-old Andrew Grant. He was last seen near 37 Myrtle St. wearing a green T-shirt, jean shorts, and he was not wearing any shoes.

Authorities say they were only notified at 9:30 a.m. Friday of Grant's disappearance.

Search crews have set up a command post near the town's fire department.

"Presently, the Medfield fire department, Norfolk fire department and Medway fire department are on the scene for police assistance. Participating at this point is the Bellingham K-9 units, the Millis, Norfolk and Medway police departments have brought in special vehicles," Norfolk Fire Chief Cole Bushnell said.

Boats from Medway, Norfolk and Millis have also been deployed into the Charles River to assist in the search.

"At this point, nothing has been found. There is no evidence of any foul play or wrongdoing. At this point, it is a search situation to try to find this youth," said Bushnell.

Officials say they were called to look for Grant Tuesday evening and found him hiding in the bushes along the Charles River.

"Fifteen-year-old boy has autism. There was a situation earlier in the week where he was thought to be missing, and turned out that he had been hiding out in the yard. And when the dogs approached him in the search for him, he got scared and ran into the house," said Millis Selectman Paul Jacobsen.

Crews performed a line search in the area with K-9 units Friday afternoon.

"If he were somewhere out there doing it intentionally, the thought is he would have come out long before now. So, hopefully, he is just lost. Fortunately, the weather is such that even though he was out overnight, that should not have any adverse effects," said Jacobsen.

Specialized crews from as far away as Vermont have come to assist in the search.

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