UPDATE: Search For Missing Fayette County Ends

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UPDATE-12/2/21 at 11 AM: The search for a missing northeast Iowa teenager has ended.

Fayette County authorities reported Thursday morning that 14-year-old Walker Richardson has been found and is safe. They released no other details on where he was located or where he had been.

ORIGINAL STORY - 12/2/21 AT 6 AM:

A search is underway for a missing autistic teenager in Fayette County.

Sheriff's officials are asking for the public's help in locating 14-year-old Walker Richardson of Arlington. They said he was last seen Wednesday around 2:30 PM wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans.

According to authorities, Richardson is a highly-functioning autistic who they are actively trying to find.

Sheriff's officials began their search Wednesday afternoon, but suspended operations at night over safety concerns. Authorities are organizing a search party and plan to resume search operations at 9:30 AM today. Anyone wanting to assist in the search should report to the Arlington Fire Station.

Illegal Substances Seized From Oelwein Home

Also in Fayette County, a man and woman were arrested on drug charges Friday after authorities received a report of a possible drug overdose and domestic altercation at an Oelwein home.

Sheriff's officials who conducted the investigation discovered that 44-year-old Jeremiah Larson of Oelwein had multiple active arrests warrants for probation violations in Fayette County and 36-year-old Mellissa Newman of Oelwein was wanted for a crime in Buchanan County. Both were taken into custody. Larson was transported to the Fayette County in West Union, and Newman was transported to the Buchanan County Jail in Independence.

According to a press release, deputies observed illegal items in plain view while they were conducting their investigation. Deputies applied for and were granted a search warrant, which they executed for the home. Officials said multiple illegal substances and paraphernalia were found and seized during the search.

Larson was additionally charged with third-offense felony possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Newman was additionally charged with first-offense possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.