Missing 7-year-old boy found safe; arrests made

VIVIAN, La. (KSLA) - The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office says the missing Vivian boy has been found safe.

At around noon on Wednesday, Jan. 5, Child Protective Services went to a home in the 1500 block of Pardue Street to take custody of the child by court order. The child’s mother, Devin Michelle Smith, 36, reportedly fled the house on foot with the boy.

She was later found without the child. Smith is being booked into the Caddo Correctional Center for interfering with child custody.

Witnesses alerted police they allegedly saw Bruce Anderson, 56, pulling the child down the road by his arm. He was arrested later Wednesday night and charged with simple kidnapping.

After starting the search, officials were able to locate the child. They say he was dropped off at a neighbor’s house. Police say the child will be turned over to CPS.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.