Union County: Police Identify Lost Child Through Social Media

With the help of Facebook, Linden Police Officers were able to identify a lost 4-year-old boy who was spotted alone in the area of Wheeler Park around noon on Saturday.

Police asked for the public’s help via social media and Nixle - they posted a photograph of the boy and described him as non-verbal and unable to provide his name and address.

According to NJ.com, a neighbor of the boy saw the photograph and contacted Linden authorities within an hour of it being posted. His family was contacted and showed up to police headquarters.

An initial investigation revealed the boy was being cared for by his grandmother when he left the house on his own.

He was handed over to workers from the state Department of Children and Families and brought to a local hospital for a routine evaluation, according to My Central Jersey. The incident is under a joint investigation by the Department of Children and Families and the Linden Police Department’s Juvenile Bureau, however no charges have been filed.