Columbia County K9 team find 2 in distress

LAKE CITY, Fla. – In separate incidents on Tuesday, a Columbia County Sheriff's Office K9 team quickly found an older man and 15-year-old boy who were reported missing.

The first incident involved an elderly man wandering off from his home on SW Walter Avenue. Charles Myes, 74, who suffers from Dementia and Parkinson's disease, left his home and his daughter became concerned. 

Deputy Josh Latimer and K9 Zombie responded and tracked Myes for over a mile and found him in the dense woods entangled by vines. The man was freed, returned to his home and checked by EMS. He was not injured and was reunited with his family.

The second incident involved a teenager that ran away and was believed to be in danger of hurting himself. The 15-year-old ran away from his home on NW Whitley Glen and his parent contacted the the Sheriff's Office. Again Deputy Latimer and K9 Zombie responded, conducting a track and locating the teen in a wooded area.

The boy was taken into protective custody and taken to Meridian for treatment. He suffered only minor scrapes and scratches from running through the woods.

Either of these incidents could have had a tragic ending if not for the efforts of the responding deputies and the K9 team.