Just before 3 p.m. Monday the search for a missing Arkadelphia child was a success as the 5-year-old was located safe in a wooded area on Evans Street, a few blocks from where he was reported missing.
Outside Arkansas Hall, applause and cheers rang out and spilled over to a parking lot across the street as a sizable crowd of volunteers, waiting their turn to be called out for a search, listened while police confirmed the boy had been found.
It is believed that he had been wandering throughout the day.
He was taken by ambulance to Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia for assessment.
We will have more information later.
ORIGINAL STORY
The Arkadelphia Police Department is seeking public assistance to locate a missing child.
Lucian Judas Schickler, 5 years of age, goes by Judas.
Judas is autistic and non-verbal. He likes playgrounds and playing in wooded areas or around water sources. Judas responds well to the cartoon character “Boss Baby”. Judas left from a family friend’s residence near the 400 block of North 14th Street during the early morning hours and may be wearing a gray t-shirt and a pull-up diaper.
We are asking for your help and would ask everyone in Arkadelphia to check your back yards, storage buildings, vacant houses, parked vehicles, and anywhere else a small child could hide. Please check any video cameras you may have, anywhere inside the city limits. We are coordinating with Arkadelphia Fire Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Office and both college police departments to search the surrounding areas. Judas has been entered into ACIC/NCIC as an endangered missing child.
Volunteers are asked to coordinate with Officer Billy Chaves at the parking lot at 12th and Henderson Street.
AFTERNOON UPDATE
The search continues Monday afternoon for 5-year-old Lucian “Judas” Schickler as Arkansas State Police are in Arkadelphia to organize search parties.
Since about dawn, the streets of Arkadelphia’s University Heights — several city blocks generally west of Henderson State University — were sprawling with activity as volunteer searchers, law enforcement, firefighters, several state agencies combed the area; K9 units and drone operators were also actively searching. A search and rescue helicopter circled the city in a grid-like pattern.
Volunteers should report to the parking lot at 12th and Henderson streets for instructions.
Droves of residents, from all walks of life, gathered at a Henderson parking lot to await further instructions from Arkansas State Police. Shortly before 2 p.m., the volunteer searchers received those instructions.
FACEBOOK LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16oBpNSdRB
Organizers will be taking groups on walk-throughs in the area in order to comb through grids.
Anyone with tips or questions should contact the Arkadelphia Police Department at 870-246-4545 option 1.
