Missing Teen Found Safe, 18 Kilometres From Home
Posted December 15, 2009 10:25 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A missing teen was found safe on Tuesday, 18 kilometres from his home.
Awais Mahmood was last seen around 1:30pm in the Thorncliffe Park Drive and Overlea Boulevard area on Monday.
Nearly 24 hours later, he was spotted in a coffee shop near Midland and Steeles. He has now been reunited with his family.
Mahmood, 19, has a diminished mental capacity and functions at the level of a five-year-old.
Earlier on Tuesday, his father told reporters that Mahmood loved bicycles and would often ride long distances.
“I don’t think he has the sense to come back home,” his worried father Basharat Mahmood said.
“That’s why we never leave him alone.”
That prompted a Level Three search by Toronto Police. Both the K-9 unit and the mounted unit were involved.
“I’m very, very happy. Very happy. And thankful to all of Toronto,” Basharat smiled after his son’s safe return
Awais attends a special program at Maplewood High School. The school day ended early on Monday and Awais arrived home around 1:30pm. However, no one was there to meet him.
