A sleepy 8-year-old boy thought to be missing overnight actually spent the time safely at a friend's house mere blocks away, Verona police said after he was found Tuesday morning.
Alejandro "A.J." Stotts, of the 700 block of Second Avenue, was not in bed or anywhere in the house about 9 p.m. Monday when his mother checked.
Despite a thorough search of the neighborhood by the family and police, the boy and his bicycle remained missing. Calls to his friends didn't produce any leads.
That mushroomed into a street-by-street search by police, firefighters and residents who showed up at the police station and asked to help, police Chief Ron McLemore said.
"We're searching street by street and block by block, and every place we can think of," McLemore said.
At daylight yesterday, officers started to track down everyone who spent time with the boy the night before. Police used a bloodhound, but the dog lost the boy's scent, perhaps as a result of overnight rain.
Just before 9 a.m., they hit pay dirt. A.J. was at a house along North Avenue, about five blocks away.
"He came to the door with his friend," said Verona Officer William Seiko. "He had no idea (people were looking for him)."
The boys were playing and no one had turned on the TV or radio there yet, Seiko said.
Family members shouted, "Thank you, Jesus!" and wept with joy when the boy, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, was driven home by police.
While his parents embraced him and other relatives huddled with tears of joy, a Verona officer pulled the boy's bicycle out of the car.
"We're a family of faith and prayed that he be found safe and sound," said A.J.'s aunt, RaShall Brackney. Brackney is a Pittsburgh Police Department commander.
A.J.'s father, Frank Stotts, said he won't punish the boy but will make sure he understans the importance of getting permission before leaving the house.
Another relative said he might not have his bicycle for a while.
"He's a typical 8-year-old," said A.J.'s mother, Theresa Stotts. "He has no idea what was going on."
Chuck Biedka can be reached at cbiedka@tribweb.com.
