Police are giving credit to a post on the department's Facebook page which led police to the family of a 4-year-old found wondering Saturday in Linden.
On June 20, shortly after noon, police were alerted of a young child attempting to cross Routes 1&9 at S. Wood Ave. with no adult present.
The boy, who appeared to be about 4-years-old, was located and taken into police custody.
Officers attempted to communicate with the boy, who was described as “non-verbal”, either because of a language difference or a developmental issue.
Officers took a photo of the boy and posted it on the police department’s Facebook page, along with a bulletin sent out on Nixle and UnionCounty First Alert.
Within an hour, police were contacted by a neighbor of the boy.
The family was then contacted and responded to police headquarters. An initial investigation revealed that the boy slipped out of his house while being cared for by a grandmother.
The boy was turned over to state Department of Children & Families workers who brought the child to an area hospital for a routine evaluation.
A joint investigation is continuing by the DCF and the police department’s Juvenile Bureau.
No charges have been filed at this time.