Phoenyx

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A 14-year-old Upper Saddle River boy was found safe Thursday night, Nov. 13, after a nearly four-hour multi-agency search that included drones, aviation units, K-9 teams, and a Maywood Police bloodhound that followed his scent for half a mile, authorities said.

The incident began at 6:30 p.m., when Upper Saddle River Police were notified that the juvenile was missing after “a verbal dispute with a family member,” according to Chief Patrick Rotella.

The Upper Saddle River Police Department requested assistance from numerous agencies, including the USRPD Drone Unit, Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, BCSD K-9 Unit, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Allendale Police, Mahwah Police, Montvale Police, Ramsey Police, the Town of Ramapo Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, officials said.

At approximately 8 p.m., Upper Saddle River Police requested help from the Maywood Police Department K-9 Unit, which responded with Sgt. Chris Nichols and his three-year-old bloodhound, Phoenyx.

Using a piece of clothing, K-9 Phoenyx acquired the juvenile’s scent and led a team of officers 1/2 mile, where she located the missing boy in a residential area, Maywood Police said. The teen was then safely reunited with family.

"The Maywood PD is proud to continue bringing bloodhound services to Bergen County and K9 Phoenyx continues to follow in K9 Remi's footsteps," said Nichols, honoring his prior Bloodhound, who found multiple criminals and missing juveniles before she died at 5 years old.

"Time and time again, we see bloodhounds making the difference when it counts the most."

Upper Saddle River Police said the youth was “in good health” and “safely transported home.” He was released to “the care and custody of a parent without further incident.”

Chief Rotella thanked all agencies involved in the operation and extended appreciation to the administration of Northern Highlands High School and to local residents for their cooperation and understanding during the search.

Maywood Police also thanked their law enforcement partners “in this multi-agency collaboration.”