Police and community members have searched non-stop for an 8-year-old girl who disappeared Sunday afternoon from outside a Santa Cruz arts center but so far, their efforts appear to have been in vain.
Madyson "Maddy" Middleton was caught on surveillance video while riding a white Razor scooter outside the Tannery Arts Center at 1050 River Street in Santa Cruz yesterday at 5:05 p.m., but hasn't been seen since.
According to the Arts Center's site, the center provides "an affordable, accessible and sustainable home for Santa Cruz County artists and arts." A Santa Cruz Police Department spokesperson says that Maddy's mother lives in one of the center's 100 housing units for artists.
SCPD spokesperson Joyce Blaschke tells the Santa Cruz Sentinel that “The Santa Cruz Police Department has flooded the area with additional officers and detectives."
“Officers have scoured the complex and surrounding areas, including the woodland, parks and river levee in an attempt to locate Madyson.”
In addition to SCPD teams, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and a specialized K-9 rescue team from the state Office of Emergency Services are searching the area for any signs of the child.
Community groups aiding in the search are "folks from Take Back Santa Cruz, a standup paddleboarding group and a group from Watsonville," the Sentinel reports.
Madyson is 4 feet tall, weighs 48 pounds and has dark eyes and long brown hair that was pulled to the side in a braid. She was last seen wearing a purple knee-high dress with black leggings and a black helmet.
Anyone with information that can help to safely locate Madyson Middleton is asked to call 911. Anonymous tips can also be called in to the Santa Cruz police department at 831-420-5995, or via text to TIPSCPD plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).
“We will be working around the clock following up on all leads,” Blaschke says.
“Please report any possible sightings. They are crucial to assist in locating the missing child as soon as possible.”