Woodland Middle School student found safe following two hour search

COEUR d’ALENE — A Woodland Middle School student was found safe Wednesday after he failed to arrive at school, prompting a two-hour search.

The 12-year-old was located by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department after he was recognized inside Walmart in Hayden, according to Sgt. Jared Reneau with CDAPD.

The boy was initially reported missing around 10:30 a.m. after WMS confirmed with the boy’s parents that he had left for school around 7:30 a.m. but never arrived at school.

“If a student is absent and the school does not have a record that the absence is excused, school staff contact the student's parent or guardian,” said Stefany Bales, executive director of community relations at WMS. “Working through this process, it was determined that Nicholas should have been at school.”

WMS was placed on a brief precautionary safety hold while the school grounds were searched.

The police department eventually released a description of the boy, “which ultimately led to a citizen alerting law enforcement to Nicholas’s location and his safe return,” the release said.

“We are very relieved Nicholas was found safe, and we are grateful to the CDAPD for their quick response in locating Nicholas,” Bales told The Press.

“Incidents like this one are very rare,” Bales added.