Missing Connecticut Girl, 15, Found With Man In New York

NEW HAVEN, CT — A New Haven man is facing charges of endangering the welfare of a child after he was found with a missing 15-year-old Connecticut girl in Montgomery, New York Sunday night, local police said.

The case unfolded after Orange County, New York police broadcasted a BOLO (be on the lookout) notification for a suspect — 24-year-old Marcos Mendez — wanted in connection with the missing girl and received a call from Connecticut police that the suspect's phone was pinging in the Montgomery area.

Officers patrolled the area and quickly found Mendez in his vehicle on Maple Avenue, after which Mendez said he had told the missing girl to run from the car as officers approached, Montgomery police said.

Mendez was taken into custody while officers teamed up with a police dog and a drone to search the nearby woods for the teen, according to police.

An hour later, the dog found the teen in a wooded area between Maple Lane and Ridge Road, police said.

The girl was found in "good health" but was taken to be evaluated at the hospital, where she was reunited with her family.

Mendez was arraigned in Newburgh on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, police said. He was served with an order of protection for the victim and released on his own recognizance.

No additional information was immediately available Wednesday morning.