Missing Aurora teenager rescued from storm drain thanks to community tip

AURORA, Colo. ( KDVR ) — An Aurora teen is safe thanks to help from several law enforcement agencies and the community who rallied together after he went missing for nearly an entire day.

Aurora police said they’ve gotten calls about Donnell “Tupac” Tolliver before, saying the 15-year-old with a developmental disability has wandered off from home in the past.

“Typically, he’ll leave and come home,” said Matthew Longshore, the public information officer for the Aurora Police Department. “It’s when he didn’t come home that certainly raised a lot of flags and had us concerned.”

This time, however, it took some extra effort after Tolliver got stuck in a storm drain. Longshore said they still aren’t sure how it happened.

“We don’t know how he got in there other than he probably just squeezed through the bars and then was unable to get out,” he said.

Tolliver was missing for about 18 hours when he was reported missing on the night of Sept. 8 and found the afternoon of Sept. 9. The search involved multiple agencies, including the Aurora Fire Department and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The search used methods like canines for scents and even an eye in the sky.

“They have a FLIR system on their drone that can look for heat signatures,” said Longshore.

But the biggest factor was two Aurora residents who joined the search by providing a crucial tip while driving around town.

“They spotted something a little strange in a storm drain,” said Longshore. “It was certainly them that assisted us greatly in finding Tupac.”

Police arrived on the scene and gave him water and a snack while waiting for fire crews who were able to eventually break the drain’s lock and get Tolliver out. Longshore said Tolliver’s family came to pick him up and even met the two bystanders who helped.

“Certainly a happy ending for everybody,” he said.

Longshore said Tolliver was taken to the hospital to be checked out but appeared to be in good health and spirits after his rescue.

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