Yesterday, at 5:40pm Englishtown Police Officers were dispatched to Stamford Square Apartments for a missing 8 year old Autistic girl missing for five minutes. Chief Cooke, CPL Martinson, PFC Zapora and OFC Garifalos responded. Officers arrived on scene within 90 seconds and after meeting with the child’s guardian immediately began searching the area. The guardian advised responding officers that her granddaughter was a participant in Project Lifesaver (participants wear a bracelet or anklet that transmits a specific radio frequency that can be tracked by specialized equipment within Sheriff’s Officers Cars) so officers on scene advised dispatch and immediately requested that the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office be requested to respond to assist. MCSO K-9 Officer Imbriacco was dispatched and was responding with his bloodhound partner. Meanwhile Manalapan Police Officers Porricelli and Herring assisted by checking the area by Lake Weamaconk. While searching the area around Stamford Square Chief Cooke recalled from his Autism training that Autistic individuals are sometimes drawn to areas of water. Knowing that a stream runs behind Stamford Square, Chief Cooke set off in the direction of the stream. While walking along the stream Chief Cooke came upon a pair of black sneakers with pink trim that were stuck in the mud at the edge of the stream. Confirming the sneakers belonged to the missing child Chief Cooke stepped up his search of the area. Further downstream Chief Cooke found the Autistic child, naked in the stream. Other than being in a state of undress the child was ok. Chief Cooke immediately requested that an officer respond to his location with a blanket. OFC Garifalos responded and after the child was covered up OFC Garifalos carried the child through the woods approximately a 1/4 mile back to the child’s apartment. Assisting agencies were released and the child was examined by the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad but fortunately was not in need of transport to the hospital. The Officers of the Englishtown Police Department are thankful that this incident ended positively and wish to thank the Monmouth County Sheriffs Office Communications Division for their outstanding job assisting us along with Monmouth County Sheriff’s K-9 Officer Imbriacco and Manalapan Officers Porricelli and Herring. Within 12 minutes from time of dispatch this child was located safe. Good job Chief Cooke, CPL Martinson, PFC Zapora and OFC Garifalos.