Mass. Police K-9 Helps Save Missing Autistic Boy in Chest-Deep Water

As an 8-year-old boy was surrounded chest deep in water in a Milford pond, he gripped a nearby tree trying to not go fully under.

The child, who is non-verbal and autistic, escaped through the first floor window of a nearby home. His mother called 911 around 3:58 p.m. because he was nowhere to be found, according to a press release from the Milford Police Department.

Patrol units began the search, with Milford Police Officer Brian Sanchioni and K-9 Titan beginning a track of the area.

A stream of water located across the street from the parent’s residence caught Titan’s attention and the two partners followed the stream for approximately 600 feet. Then Titan jumped into the water, proceeded underneath a small bridge and found the child, who was hanging from a tree on the bank of the pond, according to the press release.

The child was submerged chest deep in the water and was hanging onto the tree as to not go further beneath the water, Dispatch Supervisor Jason M. Covino told MassLive in an email.

The child was rescued and then reunited with his mother. He was then taken to Milford Regional Medical Center for a precautionary evaluation.

“We’re grateful for a quick and positive outcome. This speaks to the invaluable nature of resources like the K-9 unit,” Tusino said. “With more, we’re able to do more. 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.”

_________________

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit masslive.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.