On Saturday evening, June 29, at approximately 10:12pm, NATCOM 911 Center received reports of a juvenile missing in the Shady Grove area west of Hagewood according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
Family members contacted the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office requesting assistance after the 16-year-old failed to return while being in the woods at a deer lease off of the Shady Grove Road.
Natchitoches Parish was under an extreme heat warning on Saturday and it reached 100 degrees with high index values. Plainly put it was hot Louisiana weather!! 911 operators also learned the juvenile was susceptible to heat related illnesses.
Family members tracked the juvenile relative on Life 360 but were unable to locate him when they reached the location. Deputies responded to the location to coordinate search efforts and gather additional information.
Additional deputies responded with all-terrain vehicles and the Winn Parish K-9 Chase and Tracking Team was contacted for assistance.
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS deployed a unit to stand-by in the area. Natchitoches Parish Fire District #6 and other resources were placed on stand-by.
A search of the wooded area began.
At approximately 2:30am, the Winn Parish K-9 Tracking Team and NPSO deputies located the juvenile unharmed. He was transported out of the woods by all-terrain vehicle to an awaiting emergency medical services unit for assessment.
He was assessed and released to family members without transport.
Sheriff Wright extends his appreciation to 911 Center operators, NPSO deputies, the Winn Parish K-9 Chase and Tracking Team and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS for their assistance in the happy ending and successful rescue of this young man.
