UPDATE: Nov. 18 at 3 p.m.
An official with the Fayette County Public Schools confirmed that the child found by animal control officers wandering on New Circle Road, is a student at Meadowthorpe Elementary School.
The official reported that the student "briefly left school grounds" on Monday. The school noted that "we take this incident extremely seriously as student safety is our top priority."
As the investigation continues, the school reported that the following safety protocols are being implemented:
- Protocol Review: Reviewing all security procedures, including door access, supervision plans, and missing child response protocols.
- Staff Training: Providing refresher training to all relevant school staff, focusing on supervision and safety vigilance.
- Physical Security: Reevaluation of the facility's physical security, including testing door alarms and verifying secured entry points.
Original Story:
A young boy is safe after two Lexington-Fayette Animal Care & Control officers spotted him near a dangerous stretch of New Circle Road on Monday.
According to the organization, the two officers spotted the child, who is on the autism spectrum, near the roadway on the way to a call. They "acted instantly, stopping and keeping him safe until police arrived," LFACC said on social media.
"This is a reminder that some children—especially those on the autism spectrum, like this young boy—may not recognize danger, and how vital it is to have people like these officers watching out for them," the organization continued.
