The search continued Thursday morning for a missing 5-year-old boy in Dickson County.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered Child Alert for Joseph "Joe Clyde" Daniels on Wednesday. He was last seen Tuesday night when his parents put him to bed at his residence on Garners Creek Road.
Officials said Joseph is non-verbal and has an autism spectrum disorder.
Please help us find this endangered child out of Dickson, TN. Joseph Daniels is non-verbal and autistic. He was last seen at his residence on Garners Creek Road in Dickson. If you see Joseph, please call 1-800-TBI-FIND. pic.twitter.com/tkKus4Ekif
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) April 4, 2018
Thursday morning, Sheriff Jeff Bledsoe confirmed that there was a reported sighting of a boy matching Joseph’s description late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning walking near the road by his house.
Bledsoe said the TBI spoke with the witness and they believe the report is valid.
K9s also picked up his scent leading into a pond near his home. Authorities drained the pond and did not find anything. From there, Bledsoe said the scent abruptly dropped off.
Search crews also found what they think is his footprint. Bledsoe added that this is still a search and rescue effort.
"We’re going to be here as long as it takes. Until we can exhaust all efforts in this area," he said.
Bledsoe also asked for residents who have game cameras to check their footage to see if there's anything that might help them with their search.
The Dickson County Sheriff's Office released a statement for anyone wanting to volunteer:
“Anyone wishing to volunteer in the search for 5 year old Joe Daniels, please meet at Friendship Baptist Church at the corner of Hwy 70 West and CCC Rd. at 9 am Thursday morning. Dress appropriately and please sign in. The search is continuing throughout the night.”
Volunteers were asked not to bring UTV's or horses. Volunteers will be utilized as needed in shifts and will be required to sign-in once they get to the area.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Joe Daniels may call 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463), or contact the Dickson County Sheriff's Office at 615-446-8041 ext. 0.
