Crime & Safety
Helicopters, Rumors Fly in Napa
No, it wasn't an Obama visit: Those helicopters flying over Napa yesterday were from television stations eager to cover the search for a 7-year-old who turned out to be at a friend's house.
Multiple helicopters buzzing over north Napa on Wednesday got a lot of people's attention.
One local parent e-mailed: "I saw a hovering helicopter this afternoon and asked my daughter why she thought it was there. She texted a few friends and said that it’s because Obama is in town."
Actually, Obama was in Washington, D. C. and "those were news helicopters," said Napa police Lt. Debbie Peecook.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The airships had been attracted to the area by an alert from Napa police that a search was on for a 7-year-old boy who had failed to return home after school let out.
Shortly after 5 p.m., was discovered safe at a friend's home and reunited with his anxious family.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Christian left at about 12:45 p.m., and his father told police that he became concerned when the boy did not come home immediately. They live in the 3700 block of Dover Street, which is located just two blocks from the school, Peecook said.
Police requested assistance from other agencies, including the Napa County Sheriff's Office and search and rescue teams, Peecook said.
A team of 40 to 50 people and a dog searched house-to-house for the boy, and Peecook said the search was called off after the mother of a friend of Christian's found him at her home shortly after 5 p.m.
The woman notified Christian's father that the boy was safe, and authorities retrieved the boy from her home and reunited him with his father, Peecook said.
Bay City News Service contributed to this story.
