Officials Searching for Boy Family

Child was left last Saturday at Oklahoma City Wal-Mart Store

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL---The following information is being released in cooperation with the Oklahoma City Police Department:

On Aug. 24, 2007, at approximately 1:20 p.m., Oklahoma City Police were called to the Wal-Mart at 6100 W. Reno in reference to a shoplifter that had left a small child behind. When officers arrived they discovered that store security had spotted a man shoplifting while pushing a shopping cart with a small child sitting in it. When the suspect was confronted by store security, he fled on foot leaving the child behind. The suspect was never captured and his identity is not known. The child was taken into protective custody at that time.

The child was placed in protective custody by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. The child appears to be a two or three year-old black male. Due to his young age, he is not able give any identifying information such as a last name, or parent or guardian name. OKDHS staff believes he has given the first name of “Ryan” or “Brian.” Thus far no one has come forward to identify the child, nor has anyone reported him missing.

Three photographs of the child were taken by OKDHS personnel. There is also a video of the suspect and the child that was taken at the Wal-Mart store during the incident. The video can be viewed at the Public Information Office at Oklahoma City Police Headquarters. Anyone with information regarding the identity of this child should call the Oklahoma City Police Child Abuse Unit at (405) 297-1124 or Crime Stoppers at (405) 235-7300. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous.

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