MISSING JUVENILE FOUND SAFE

By Jon Mayhew (NORTH LINCOLN) -- A 12-year-old boy, reported missing by his mother and grandmother around 10:30pm Friday, is found safe early Saturday morning.

The Carolina Scoop broke the story Friday night moments after the Lincoln County Emergency Management command center was dispatched to North Street off Car Farm Road north of Lincolnton.

As sheriff's deputies, firefighters and resuce workers began searching for the boy, searchers learned he may have gotten into a car around 6:30pm, when the juvenile was last seen.

Around 12:30am Saturday, authorities learned the juvenile was at a friend's house. Radio traffic indicated the boy was picked up by a Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy and reunited with his mother at the command post.

The boy ran away from home after being punished by his mother and grandmother. The juvenile took his grandmother's cell phone; however, searchers weren't able to establish a connection.