Missing Wall Township Children Found After 3.5-hour Search

Two children who had wandered away from home were found Monday night after a flood of police and emergency personnel converged on the area of Allaire Road in search of the missing youngsters, police said.

The pair – a 12-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy -- had been playing in the courtyard at the Spring Lake Garden Apartments and were last seen at 6:45 p.m. Police were called to the area at 7:30 p.m. when the children were discovered missing, Lt. Walter Pomphrey said.

Police flooded the area, with assistance from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and Wall Township K-9 units to begin a search. Additional manpower was called in from five area police, fire and first aid squads, Pomphrey said.

As the search went on, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office also responded, Pomphrey said.

About 3.5 hours later, around 11 p.m., the children were found by the K-9 units walking back toward the apartment complex. The two were unharmed and re-united with their parents, Pomphrey said.

There was no foul play associated with their disappearance. The pair had simply wandered away from home, Pomphrey said.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, West Belmar Fire and South Wall Fire Districts, Wall Community and Wall First Aid and the Spring Lake Heights Police Department assisted in the search, Pomphrey said.

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