Missing autistic boy, 12, found in Westminster

Gabriel Duwaik (Credit: Westminster Police Department)

Posted: Jul 10, 2014 / 05:48 AM MDT

Updated: Jul 10, 2014 / 04:21 PM MDT

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WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Police were searching for a boy with autism Thursday morning after he was reported missing late Wednesday night.

However, shortly before 6:30 a.m. Thursday, police reported the child, 12-year-old Gabriel Duwaik, had been found in the area of 72nd Avenue and Quebec Street, which is about 10 miles from where he was first reported missing.

Duwaik has autism and is non-verbal and was first reported missing around 9 p.m. Wednesday just west of Mountain Range High School.

“Gabriel missed his nightly medication which may make him tired,” police wrote in a press release Thursday morning. “In the past he has fallen asleep outside, and he could possibly be sleeping in a nearby yard or park.”

The successful search Thursday morning involved a team that includes bloodhound dogs, and a CodeRED alert, which is an emergency notification system that called over 30,000 landline phone number in the area Duwaik was reported missing.