CMPD Help Kids Come Home With “Operation Carolina Homecoming”
Kids have been missing for a while, and the CMPD is doing something about it!
It’s about time!!
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police found more than 150 missing juveniles during an operation and brought them home.
Most of the juveniles had been missing for more than six months, police say. “Operation Carolina Homecoming” took place from April 26 to May 7.
“The juveniles were reunited with their families or returned to DSS custody,” police say.
Many of the juveniles were found living at hotels, with an adult partner or with a friend.
“Several of the juveniles were discovered to have been engaged in high-risk activities such as prostitution and narcotics activity, and a few of them were victims of human trafficking,” police say.
“These are kids who have really tried to get away from home situations or they don’t like being in CPS custody or living in a group home, or they’re just engaging in criminal activity,” police said. Many juveniles who run away may disappear for hours, days or weeks, police say, but “these are kids who are taking active measures not to be found.”
Atrium Health partnered with CMPD and other agencies to help provide physical and mental health care services. Doctors try to connect with the juveniles and help them heal after many experienced trauma.
