HUNTER DWORACZYK
A local teenager who had been reported as a runaway juvenile for nearly three weeks was returned to family Thursday night.
Aleksis Damen Laurel, 14, was returned to his mother Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7:21 p.m., according to the Taylor Police Department.
Taylor PD said they received a call from a resident saying they saw Laurel near Pierce Park in downtown Taylor.
Commander Joseph Branson said an officer went to the scene, saw Laurel and then called his mother.
“It was good work by the officers,” Branson said. “I’d like to thank the public for being on the look-out and giving us a call. Because, really, we got the result we wanted, which was that he was returned safely to his mom.”
Laurel was first reported as a runaway juvenile by his mother Dec. 15 at approximately 10:27 p.m.
On Jan. 2, Taylor PD said they believed Laurel to be staying with friends, possibly moving back and forth between different locations at that point.
Police then said they believed that Laurel contacted his mother by phone using private/blocked numbers at least twice in the time he had been a reported runaway juvenile.
Laurel was seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jean pants and white sneakers at approximately 6:30 a.m. Dec. 15 when getting ready to leave for school before going missing, police previously said.
Laurel did not return home after early release from school that day and did not have permission to not to return home, police said.
Taylor PD said its officers conducted several follow-ups at multiple residences in Taylor. Several residents gave consent to Taylor officers to search residences for Laurel.
Texas Penal Code 25.06 says that harboring a runaway is a Class A Misdemeanor.
Taylor PD encourages anyone who knows any additional information about who Laurel or stayed with to call them at 512352-5551.
