OJAI, Calif. - Aided by a Ventura County Sheriff's K-9 unit, authorities located a 10-year-old boy who went missing around 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Upper Ojai Valley. He was found at 7 p.m. in a wooded area about a mile east of where he was last seen, Sgt. Kevin Donoghue said.

 

The mother of Sammy Evans reported him missing about 1:30 p.m. He had last been seen in the 12700 block of Tree Ranch Road.

 

Donoghue said Evans was in good condition, "just scared of being in trouble, I suppose. He was just recently reunited with his family and they’re all very elated to have him back."

 

Sammy's father Steve Evans said his son was drinking water and tired but "looked good."

 

Their Boy Scouts Troop, their 4-H group and neighbors all dropped what they were doing and came to help, Evans said.

 

"He's a wonderful kid who got confused and got scared and they found him," Evans said. "The gratitude we have is unbelievable."

 

The Ventura County Fire Department, a sheriff’s helicopter, K-9 units and search-and-rescue teams were looking for Evans. Around 75 volunteers and officials participated.

 

A K-9 unit found Evans in an area that had previously been searched, Donoghue said.

 

Steve Evans said the K-9 picked up his son's scent near where he had been earlier and then began following Sammy's trail.

 

"It was the first time I relaxed," he said. "It's the most beautiful dog I have ever seen."