MISSING AUTISTIC TEEN FOUND UNHURT IN STORE.Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Staff Writer PALMDALE -- A teen-age boy with diminished mental capacity who had been missing for nearly 24 hours was found unhurt at a Palmdale sporting goods Noun 1. sporting goods - sports equipment sold as a commodity commodity, trade good, good - articles of commerce sports equipment - equipment needed to participate in a particular sport store Friday afternoon, authorities said. Sheriff's deputies engaged in a massive search for Jason Valenzuela, 13, who suffers autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. and is said to have the mental capacity of an 8- year-old. Valenzuela had last been seen at 3 p.m. Thursday riding a red BMX BMX abbr. bicycle motocross BMX Noun 1. bicycle motocross: stunt riding over an obstacle course on a bicycle 2. bicycle near 47th Street West and Avenue L-8 in Quartz Hill, sheriff's officials said. Sheriff's Deputy Chris Voda spotted a bicycle matching that description in front of Sport Chalet Sport Chalet is a retailer of sporting equipment, apparel, shoes, and accessories in the United States. It operates approximately 40 company owned stores in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, with new stores opening soon in Utah, with the first at Jordan Landing. , and found the missing boy inside the store moments later at 1:20 p.m., authorities said. Valenzuela told Voda he slept in the open desert, and had enough money to buy himself a doughnut for breakfast. Valenzuela is a sixth-grade student at Rancho ran·cho n. pl. ran·chos Southwestern U.S. 1. A hut or group of huts for housing ranch workers. 2. A ranch. Vista School in Palmdale, Westside Union School District Superintendent District Superintendent may be:
Sheriff's Deputy Kelly Simon said 10 volunteer sheriff's deputies, two bloodhounds and a helicoptor were involved in the search. A command post was established at the intersection where the boy was last seen. "This is one of those situations where we had a lot of resources deployed and we were trying to get to him before something tragic happened," Simon said. "We're very happy things turned out the way they did and he's back home with Mom." gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com (661) 267-7802 |
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