WEST CHESTER, Ohio — West Chester police are searching for a 7-year-old autistic boy who was reported missing Wednesday night.
Police said Joshua Altheef Jr. was last seen near his home on Wyndtree Drive. He had been dropped off earlier in the day by his bus driver and had been with his adult sister. He was then reported missing to police at around 5:30 p.m.
Altheef is nonverbal, stands at around 4 feet tall and weighs about 50-60 pounds. He was wearing a tan shirt, tan pants, black shoes and a jacket. Police said he is known to like water and parks and may run away if you walk up to him.
West Chester fire officials said they contacted the Butler County Technical Rescue Team, which has assisted them in the search. Also assisting officials are multiple drone units, Butler County EMA and several other nearby agencies.
Crews originally began searching the apartment complex where he lived but have since widened their search. They are now searching throughout the northwest parts of West Chester, with officials saying Altheef may have also traveled into Liberty Township or Fairfield Township.
Anyone within a five-mile radius of OH-747 and Smith Road is asked to check their property or doorbell cameras.
"We're relying on our citizens and partners to be able to take the picture that we provided and be able to call into our dispatch center if they have information they think is relative to that," said Randall Hanifen, assistant fire chief.
Anyone who has information or has seen Altheef is asked to call police at 513-777-2231.
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