Help Find Missing 12-year-old Boy NR09476pv

Update
Relatives of Christopher Perez took him to Hollywood Division and told the officers he was found in good health.

Los Angeles:  Local law enforcement is looking for a missing 12-year-old boy, Christopher Perez, who ran away from a Whittier foster home last night, September 28, 2009, around 10 p.m.

At 3 p.m. today, a convenience store clerk reported letting Christopher use a telephone at a store near the intersection of Firestone Boulevard and Compton Avenue of Los Angeles County.  Police think he last spoke to his sister who encouraged him to go to police.  According to the clerk, deputies missed the boy by five minutes.

Christopher was placed in protective care last night by the Department of Children and Family Services after his mother was admitted to a hospital near downtown Los Angeles.  Soon after being placed in the home in Whittier, the boy ran away.  Deputies with the Norwalk Substation, Los Angeles County Sheriff (LASD), used blood hounds to follow Christopher’s trail to the Norwalk Green Line Rail Station.

Los Angeles police officers have been checking two residences downtown since midnight, but have found no one home.  Christopher lives with his mother downtown, and visits two siblings who also live downtown.  Police have also contacted school police officers for the Bancroft Middle School, where Christopher attends school, and have visited a home in Hollywood where a cousin lives.

Christopher Perez is described as a male Hispanic, 4 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 90 pounds.  He has black, shoulder-length hair.  He was last seen wearing a green shirt and green pants.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call LAPD Central watch commander at 213-485-3294.  During off-hours, call may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web Tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.” Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Tipsters can also call the LASD Norwalk Substation desk at 562-863-8711.

Christopher’s MySpace photograph is available from Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.