Florida K-9 finds missing 11-year-old girl in park bathroom: officials

A Florida K-9 helped find a missing and endangered 11-year-old girl on Friday after locating the child in a park bathroom, according to law enforcement officials.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy Sarah Ernstes and K-9 Mary Lu responded to the 16000 block of Carlton Lake Drive at about 8 p.m. to search for the missing girl.

Ernstes and K-9 Mary Lu tracked the girl to a neighbor’s house, where they learned the residents had given her a ride to a nearby apartment complex in Wimauma, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said units moved to that location and, once there, K-9 Mary Lu alerted deputies to a locked bathroom door at a park in the area.

Deputies found the missing girl inside the locked bathroom and were able to successfully talk her into unlocking the door, the sheriff’s office said.

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The girl was found safe and without injury.

A K-9 with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida helped find a missing and endangered 11-year-old girl in a park bathroom. HCSOSheriff / XK-9 Mary Lu found the missing girl inside the locked bathroom and deputies were able to successfully talk her into unlocking the door. HCSOSheriff / X

“Our team HCSO K9 Unit has once again proven its invaluable role in our community,” Sheriff Chad Chronister in a news release.

 “With their exceptional skills, they successfully located and brought home a missing 11-year-old girl, reuniting her safely with her family. I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s commitment to service and determination to protect and serve.”