WEST CHESTER TWP, Ohio (WXIX) – Search efforts continue for a missing 6-year-old autistic boy from West Chester Township.

Joshua Al-Lateef, 6, was last seen Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. near his family’s apartment on Wyndtree Drive, said Barb Wilson of West Chester Township police.

Her older brother called 911 to report her missing, according to a recording of the call. Police said Thursday they had no reason to suspect foul play was involved.

While volunteers checked tree lines, dumpsters and anywhere else the boy may have sought shelter from the cold, first responders deployed drones in the air and boots on the ground.

The other possibility authorities are investigating is whether Al-Lateef’s attraction to water led him to one of eight retention ponds on the apartment complex property where he lives, West Chester Fire Chief Rick Prinz said Thursday.

“They lay out the lake in a grid and search each grid very methodically,” Prinz described. “So there are teams physically in the water and on the water with boats.”

Teams searched several lakes and Al-Lateef was not found, Chief Prinz said.

Now, nearly 24 hours after the search began, Prinz says efforts will expand to bodies of water beyond the apartment complex area.

With no signs of Al-Lateef, described as 4 feet and 44 pounds, police are urging residents and businesses to check around them.

“Businesses and residents, check around your homes, under your decks, in your shed if you have one,” West Chester Acting Police Chief Brian Rebholz said Thursday.

Al-Lateef is described as 4 feet tall and 44 pounds.

He was last seen wearing the following:

• Beige shirt
• Beige pants
• Black, red and white Nike shoes
• A jacket

Police say Al-Lateef could flee if approached. He is also known to love water and parks.

“This is an all-hands-on-deck operation,” Rebholz said of the scale of the search effort.

More than 300 volunteers and eight agencies are helping West Chester departments find Al-Lateef.

Among those helping is Lindsay Amyx.

She said that as a mother, she felt she needed to help search.

“I have two kids, and knowing what this mother is going through…I have a 19-year-old and he’s autistic too,” Amyx explained. “So, I feel it in my heart. Knowing it’s cold outside, I really want to help him and his family.

Police say those wishing to help with the search efforts should follow the links at the end of this article.

Call 513-777-2231 if you see Al-Lateef.

clarification: West Chester police initially said Joshua was 7 years old. His correct last name was also updated by police.

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