UPDATE: 17-Year-Old from Bel Air Has Been Found

Photo Credit: Bel Air Police Department.

BEL AIR, MD – Authorities are attributing the quick closure of a missing persons case in Bel Air to the power of social media.

A 17-year-old boy whose family had not seen him since Saturday reported he was missing on Monday, Sgt. Jim Lockard told Bel Air Patch.

Within hours of posting the teen's picture on Facebook Tuesday evening, Lockard said the boy had been found, and the person who notified police about where he was had seen the post in her Facebook feed.

"Bel Air Police would like to thank everyone that commented, liked or shared our post related to a missing juvenile," the Bel Air Police Department said in a statement Wednesday morning. "That post reached nearly 50,000 people, received more than 30 comments and was shared almost 2,300 times. That is in addition to numerous phone calls and Facebook messages. This shows us that our social media program is working to get information to our followers. Thank you for all of your help in locating this missing person."

Previous Report

The Bel Air Police Department is asking for help finding a missing teen.

Christopher Michael Holden, 17, has been reported missing, police said Tuesday.

Holden is described as 6'3" tall and 225 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bel Air Police Department at 410-638-4500.