Special Needs Boy From Massachusetts Border Town Found Safe After Wandering Into Connecticut

TOLLAND COUNTY, CT — A special needs teen from Massachusetts was located safe Wednesday afternoon after a search that lasted several hours.

Authorities in Stafford posted an alert at 2:17 p.m. Wednesday indicating the boy was safe and in protective care.

Here is the original account:

Authorities in Connecticut continued to search for a 16-year-old special needs boy from Monson, MA, who seems to have wandered into Connecticut after wandering off with two family dogs, authorities said.

Tolland Fire Chief John Littell confirmed that his department had joined in the search again Wednesday morning.

Monson fire officials said they were alerted to the situation Tuesday. Security camera footage showed the boy and the dogs heading toward the state line.

The residence is located in a remote area with rugged terrain, authorities said.

In Connecticut, state police and fire crews from Stafford and Tolland were mobilized to join the search efforts, which included dog teams, the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing and several all-terrain vehicles.

The search was suspended at 10:30 p.m., partly because the dogs and search crews were fatigued, authorities said.

On Wednesday morning, authorities in Connecticut were asking home and business owners to check their your properties and review any security camera footage.

Authorities said the boy was was last seen at 7:30 a.m. walking south on Moulton Hill Rd in Stafford.

Littell on Wednesday morning said the search was intense with several ATVs being deployed,

The boy was seen walking the two family dogs and was wearing a navy blue shirt, black shorts and blue sneakers, authorities said. He wears glasses and has no hair.

Anyone seeing him or anyone who knows his current location can contact Connecticut State Police at the Troop C barracks in Tolland at 860-896-3200 or by calling 911.