Delores L. Walker, Free Press Reporter

When Thomas Croft, Danny Hewett and Red Walker began their usual work day at Croft’s Thriftway Saturday morning they had no idea that their actions would result in the safe return of two 14-year-old runaways.



According to them, shortly after opening the doors of the local grocery store two young girls walked into the store and asked about restroom facilities. Hewett said he told them the restrooms were located at the rear of the store and they walked off in that direction.



Noting that the girls came back toward the front of the store, perhaps 30 or 45 minutes later, Hewett said he and Walker commented to Croft that the girls had changed their clothing and were no longer carrying the plastic bag they had brought into the store.



“That’s when I got the feeling that something was a little out of the ordinary, that perhaps they were not with their parents as I had previously thought,” Hewett said. Walker and Croft seem to be of the same opinion. In retrospect, Hewett commented that he thought about the possibility of his daughter or granddaughter being out at the mercy of a stranger possibly intent on causing harm to them and he just felt compelled to see where the girls were going.

Hewett saw the girls walking down SR27 and made the decision to go to the county jail and make them aware of his concern.



According to the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office it was the right thing to do……a follow-up investigation would show the girls had been missing from Baker County since July 2 and were listed as runaways.



Statistics are released everyday that represent some dad and mom’s child that has run away, some of them never return home. Records from Los Angeles County alone record that the county morgue is cleared every 30 days of unidentified runaways that no one claims.



The Sheriff’s Office commends the concern and action these three residents showed. Very possibly it prevented these two young girls from becoming a sad statistic on some police report, maybe even one in this county.



The girls were picked up by a Baker County officer from the Lafayette County Jail. While there they were graciously provided with a meal until the officer arrived to take them home.

Hewett, Croft and Walker said they’re glad they acted on their observation.



Sheriff Carson McCall added that residents need to be aware of what is happening around us. “If something seems different or you feel uneasy about an incident call 911 or stop by the jail and let us know what’s happening. We appreciate your concern,” said the sheriff.