Missing deaf GF teen found safe about a block from residence

Grand Forks Police say a deaf, non-verbal 15-year-old who left his residence early this (Thu) morning was located unharmed about a block away.

Authorities say Kanyon Tollefson left a “REM North Dakota” facility on North 51^st Street through a bedroom window around 5:00 AM. The facility offers services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

Police say, about eight hours later, at 1:05 PM, Kanyon was found hiding in an apartment that was left unlocked by the resident when they left for work this morning.

Kanyon was not hurt, and was returned to his guardians.

Multiple agencies were involved in the search, including the G-F-P-D, U-N-D Police, Grand Forks Fire Department and the Grand Forks Regional U-A-S Team.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol provided K-9 assistance…and the U-S Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine unit also assisted in the search.

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(Photo: GFPD)

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GFPD release:

On May 5th, 2023 officers of the Grand Forks Police Department were dispatched to the area of 400 North 51st St. for a report of a juvenile male that had walked away from a REM ND facility. Upon arrival officers learned a 15-year-old juvenile, identified as Kanyon Tollefson, had left out of a bedroom window. Officers began checking the surroundings and made steps to enter him as a missing juvenile. Initial officers were unable to locate Tollefson. Police department shift change also occurred during this time and new additional officers were dispatched to assist on the call. North Dakota Highway Patrol provided K9 assistance with a tracking dog in an effort to find the juvenile. Members of the University of North Dakota Police Department, Grand Forks Fire Department, GF Regional UAS Team, and the US Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine unit also assisted in searching for the juvenile. The juvenile was located at about 1:05pm approximately one block from his residence hiding in an apartment that had been left unlocked by the owner when they left for work earlier in the morning. Tollefson was uninjured and was returned to his guardians.