Renton Sophomore Helps Police Bring Lost Toddler Home

RENTON, WA - A Renton High School sophomore recently became a temporary police detective after officers used her help to find the parents of a lost toddler. For her efforts, Tania Avila was awarded a letter of appreciation from Renton police for her actions.

In mid-September, two Renton officers came to Tania Avila's door with a 3-year-old boy in tow. The boy was found wandering barefoot in her neighborhood. The officers thought the child was saying that he lived at Tania's house, which is why they brought him there.

Because Avila is bilingual, Renton schools spokesman Randy Matheson said, she agreed to join the officers in their efforts to find the child's parents. She went with the officers as they knocked on doors at an apartment building and was able to talk to Hispanic residents.

The search took a while, but they eventually found the boy's father, who had been out looking for the child.

Image courtesy Renton School District