A missing 10-year-old Arlington boy has been found safe, police say.
Arlington police found 10-year-old Forrest Lawrence Thursday afternoon after an officer canvassing the neighborhood spotted the boy.
Moments before the child was found, the officer showed the boy's picture to a group of people who said they had recently seen the boy nearby.
The officer walked in that direction and, according to police, spotted the runaway. He was returned to his home at about 2:40 p.m.
Lawrence, who has a history of leaving home, was reported missing Wednesday after he was last seen at about 11:30 p.m. at his home on the 8400 block of Redheart Street. Police said Lawrence was being punished for problems at school and was told to go to his room. When his family checked on him later, he was gone.
The family searched for him for a short time before calling 911 at about midnight.
Lawrence told NBC 5 he sneaked out the backdoor of his house, then just “walked around” until police found him in a nearby subdivision.
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“I’m sorry for what I did,” said Lawrence. “And I won’t do it again.”
His family wanted to express their heartfelt thanks to all the officers, K9 units, volunteers and neighbors who helped search for him and bring him home safely.
“I’m relieved,” said Darioun Billberry, Lawrence’s older brother. “But I’m more disappointed. I’m glad to have him, I love my little brother, but at the same time he needs to know it’s not a joke.”
