An Abbotsford boy who was reported missing by his caregivers on Sept. 7 showed up at a housing complex last Wednesday night with a head wound but left the scene, leading to an all-night search to find him.
Alex James Thorne, who also goes by the surname Molina, appeared at the complex in the 33200 block of Maclure Road at about 6 p.m. Const. Ian MacDonald said the teen has a relative living in the complex and has been known to run away in the past.
"It's definitely not the first time he has gone missing."
Witnesses reported that the boy's head was partially covered with a bloodied shirt that was being used as a makeshift bandage.
Thorne said he had suffered the wound in a fight over a bottle of water, but he was fine and didn't need treatment, MacDonald said.
He was unwilling to remain at the complex and was seen heading north on foot into a greenbelt area.
Patrol officers, a K9 unit and a police helicopter searched for Thorne for several hours. Patrol officers continued the search through the night, and one of them found Thorne walking down the street – in the area of Gladwin and Maclure roads – at about 8 a.m.
"He seemed to be in reasonable shape, and was downplaying his head injury," MacDonald said.
The teen was taken to hospital for assessment.