CRIME
Missing Florida Girl Found Safe After K-9 Tracked Her To Locked Park Bathroom
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
A missing and endangered child in Florida was located safe inside a locked park bathroom Friday night with the assistance of a K-9 unit, authorities said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Sarah Ernstes and K-9 Mary Lu responded to the 16000 block of Carlton Lake Drive at around 7:57 p.m. Friday to assist in the search for a missing and endangered 11-year-old girl.
Mary Lu initially tracked the child’s scent to a neighbor’s house, where investigators learned the residents had given her a ride to an apartment complex in nearby Wimauma.
After arriving at the apartment complex, Mary Lu tracked the girl to the bathrooms at a nearby park.
Body-worn camera video shared by the sheriff’s office shows Ernstes and Mary Lu outside the bathrooms.
She does have happy tail over here at these bathrooms, which she only does when she’s close to somebody, Ernstes can be heard saying of her K-9 over the radio.
It’s me, a female deputy, my dog, and another deputy, Ernstes can be heard saying to the girl behind the locked bathroom door. Deputies talked the girl into unlocking the door and coming out of the bathroom. She was found safe and without injury, the sheriff’s office said.
Do you like dogs? Can she give you a kiss? I promise she won’t hurt you, Ernstes asks the girl. That’s her reward for finding you. Mary Lu can be seen greeting the girl, tail wagging.
Our teamHCSO K9 Unit has once again proven its invaluable role in our community, Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. With their exceptional skills, they successfully located and brought home a missing 11-year-old girl, reuniting her safely with her family. I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s commitment to service and determination to protect and serve.
TMX contributed to this article.
