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Florida Issues First Spectrum Alert for Missing Teen with Autism
Authorities say 17-year-old Dominick Harris may be traveling in the DeLand area or heading toward Alabama as the new alert expands the search.
- On Thursday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement canceled its first-ever Spectrum Alert after locating 17-year-old Dominick Harris safe, one day after the alert was issued Wednesday following his disappearance from DeLand.
- Launched July 1, 2026, the Spectrum Alert system mobilizes communities to locate missing children with autism spectrum disorder quickly. State officials designed the tool to engage the public and first responders when a child faces imminent danger.
- Children with autism are prone to wandering, and drowning is the leading cause of death for this group. The Autism Society of Florida has trained over 15,000 first responders to recognize autism characteristics and improve emergency interactions.
- Holly Hill Police Chief Byron Williams confirmed Harris was found at his mother's home. She is under investigation by the Holly Hill Police Department "for possibly interfering with custody," according to officials.
- Enhanced Spectrum Alerts notify mobile phones within a five-mile radius of a child's last known location. This system joins multiple Florida emergency alerts, including AMBER Alerts and Silver Alerts, to protect vulnerable residents.
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Florida issues 1st Spectrum Alert: What is it? How to sign up?
Florida has officially launched and issued its first-ever "Spectrum Alert," which is used to mobilize communities to search for missing children with autism. Here's how the system works and how to sign up for alerts.
·Florida, United States
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Bay News 9Reposted by 
Spectrum News 13
Spectrum News 131st Florida Spectrum Alert issued for teen in DeLand canceled
Dominick Harris, 17, was last seen in the 700th block of South Alabama Avenue in DeLand.
·Saint Petersburg, United States
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Total News Sources10
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution78% Center
Bias Distribution
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78% Center
11%
C 78%
11%
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