Missing Ronan boy found
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RONAN — A 3-year-old Ronan boy was discovered safe and sound with his family dog four miles from his home on Sunday.
According to Flathead Tribal Police Chief Craige Couture, the boy was reported missing from his home on Grace Lane in Ronan at around 11:45 a.m. on Sunday. He had been missing for more than an hour by that time.
“It’s in an area where it’s wooded and there’s high water,” Couture said.
Tribal officers and sheriff’s deputies initially responded and were joined by Montana Highway Patrol, local fish and game officials, an alert helicopter, Lake County Search and Rescue, and Flathead Irrigation Project staff. An Amber alert was sent out.
The child was found at about 3 p.m. by a Montana Highway Patrol Officer.
Couture praised the multi-agency cooperation that led to the child’s safe return.
“He was with a dog and they were walking around hanging out,” Couture said. “The child is lucky there wasn’t any predators, sexual predators, or violent offenders around.”
Grizzly bears, mountain lions and criminals pose a constant threat, so children should always be closely monitored by adults, Couture said.
“If you leave a kid outside for any period of time, it doesn’t take long to go 100 yards,” Couture said. “If they can go that far in a few minutes, think of how far they can go in 20 minutes or an hour.”
A standard investigation by Child Protective Services will determine whether or not charges need to be filed in the case.
