Authorities seek 4 minors who ran away from Orange social services shelter

Authorities searched areas including a shopping center in Orange for four children who ran away from a shelter care facility and remained missing as of Monday evening, Jan. 27.

Deputies were told that the children left together from the Orangewood Children and Family Center, 401 The City Dr., at about 1:17 p.m. Monday, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Fred Thompson said. The minors were around the ages of 13 and 14 years old, and one suffers from a condition that requires medical attention.

Further descriptions of them were not immediately available.

Deputies searched the surrounding area, including the nearby The Outlets at Orange shopping center, but were unable to locate the missing children, Thompson said.

The facility they ran away from houses minors who have recently been removed from their homes by the county Children and Family Services agency or who are awaiting placement with foster parents.

“It’s not uncommon that they don’t want to be there,” Thompson said.