Tangipahoa authorities ask public for help in locating missing teen
HAMMOND - Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing/runaway teen.
The two cases are not related.
Authorities say 16-year-old Cardasha Harris who was last seen leaving her Ponchatoula residence at 3 p.m.
Harris is approximately 5'3" in height and 160 lbs.
Families and authorities are worried about Harris's safety and well-being.
Anyone who knows of her whereabouts is urged to contact the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office at (985) 345-6150.
The Sheriff's Office says this year alone, over 45 runaway teens have been reported.
Trending News
“Finding missing juveniles, who are those under 18, is an important focus for this office,” states Sheriff Edwards. “Though the majority of missing juvenile cases lack a criminal component, our end goal is to see that children return home safe.”
In a press release issued Thursday, the Sheriff's Office explained that one of the biggest tools for investigators in locating runaways is cooperation from parents and friends. The more information a parent can provide, the better the chance law enforcement has of determining where their child may be.
The Sheriff's Office said, "We encourage all parents or guardians to take an active role and learn as much about their children’s friends as possible."
Members of the community have been asked to keep an eye out for Harris and contact authorities as soon as they are seen.
Another missing teen, Desiree Stakes, who was last seen around the same time as Harris, has since been found and reunited with her family, authorities say.