A 6-year-old autistic child was safely reunited with his family after Montgomery County Police officers quickly responded to a missing child call in Wheaton and located him with the help of a Good Samaritan.
According to Montgomery County Police, the incident occurred on Monday, July 20, at approximately 1:17 p.m., when 4th District officers responded to a report of a missing 6-year-old boy with autism, identified as DJ. Officers immediately gathered information from family members, obtained a description of the child, and began searching the surrounding neighborhood while expanding the search perimeter. During the search, a Good Samaritan walking a dog told officers they had recently seen a child matching DJ’s description nearby. Acting on that information, officers quickly located DJ safe in the rear patio area of a nearby residence and reunited him with his relieved family.
Police say officers and community members locate between three and eight individuals on the autism spectrum in potentially dangerous situations every week. They encourage families to report a missing loved one immediately, stressing that every second counts. Montgomery County Police also highlighted its Autism/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Alzheimer’s and Dementia Outreach Unit, which provides resources and support for families and caregivers. More information is available on the Montgomery County Police website.
When a 6-year-old autistic child was reported missing, 4th District officers moved quickly. Gathering information, searching the area, and following a tip from a Good Samaritan.
Moments later, DJ was safely located and reunited with his family.
Every week, Montgomery County… pic.twitter.com/UKGH0mWETr
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) July 30, 2026
