One of the juveniles had been missing from Phoenix for 18 months. Others are suspected victims of sex trafficking.
PHOENIX — A 12-day initiative focusing on locating missing juveniles throughout Arizona resulted in tracking down the whereabouts of 31 children, law enforcement officials said.
The U.S. Marshals Service said its “Operation Desert Dawn” initiative ended on May 1 and involved locating 20 missing kids and confirming the location of 11 others.
One of kids to be safely located had been missing from Phoenix for 18 months. Some of the located juveniles had been experiencing homelessness or are suspected of being victims of sex trafficking, the federal agency said.
“Each child we located represents a young life removed from the risk of exploitation, abuse, or worse. Through the dedication of our partners, these children now have the opportunity to return to safety and begin moving forward,” Van Bayless, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona, said in a statement.
Anyone with info about a missing child can contact their local law enforcement agency or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app!
The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.
12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.”
Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12+ app to add to your account, or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.