Runaway Boys Found Unharmed; Grounding Ensues

An 11-year-old boy, on the run from his problems--namely, a lousy report card--was found unharmed Wednesday, along with his little brother, who had been dragged along for the adventure.

The boys disappeared about 8 p.m. Tuesday from their Reseda home after their mother issued a no-TV-for-a-month decree to the oldest for his poor grades, said Sgt. Dan Mastro of LAPD’s Devonshire Division.

The 11-year-old had been upsetting his mother by bringing home Ds and Fs from Northridge Middle School, until he hatched a solution.

“Apparently, he had been getting the mail and hiding his lousy grades,” Mastro said.

His mother eventually became suspicious and called the school. She promptly grounded him, leading to his dash for freedom, with his 7-year-old brother in tow.

Police established a 24-hour command post with a sergeant, six officers and an air support unit to search for the boys.

The children, clad in heavy jackets and lugging backpacks, made their way several miles to rural Browns Canyon, where they spent the night on the side of the road, apparently unaware they were in coyote territory, Mastro said.

At noon the next day, they telephoned their mother, telling her they were safe but wouldn’t be coming home just yet.

Police traced the call to a nearby Toys R Us and dispatched three squad cars and a helicopter. Once there, the boys tried to flee, but they ran smack into the arms of a waiting sergeant, who scooped them up and brought them back to the station, where they were issued a stern rebuke and returned to their relieved mother.

Any sympathy from his mother afterward? Nope. The boy is still grounded for a month, Mastro said.