Police K9 jumps into water, rescues missing autistic boy clinging to tree in Massachusetts
Updated on: April 29, 2025 / 5:27 PM EDT / CBS Boston
A Milford, Massachusetts police K9 jumped into a stream Monday to rescue a missing autistic 8-year-old boy who was found clinging to a tree.
Police said the boy’s mother called 911 just before 4 p.m. because her non-verbal son had escaped their home through a window and was nowhere to be found.
Patrol units quickly started searching the area, calling in Milford police K9 officer Brian Sanchioni and K9 Titan.
K9 rescues boy in Milford
Police said Titan showed “a heightened interest” in a stream across the street from the boy’s house.
After following the stream for approximately 600 feet, Titan jumped into the water and proceeded underneath a small bridge.
“Once we got to the other side of the bridge, it opened up into a small circular-shaped pond, he started barking, alerting me that he located someone,” Officer Sanchioni said. “Once I made my way up to the dog I found, or I observed, a child. He was about up to his stomach in the water. He was hanging onto a tree.”
The boy was OK. He was reunited with his mother before being taken to a hospital for a precautionary evaluation.
Titan has been with the department for several years. He’s been showcased on the Milford police Facebook page visiting preschoolers and helping to apprehend suspects.
Milford police chief Robert Tusino said this incident shows that the department’s K9 unit is “invaluable.”
“My hats off to K-9 Officer Sanchioni, K-9 Titan and all the other units that responded to help this family in their dire hour,” he said.
