Missing teen returned home by police

A 16 year-old Empire Township runaway was returned home to her parents Wednesday afternoon.  The child's parents reported her missing on Monday, telling a Leelanau County Sheriff's deputy that they hadn't seen her since Saturday.  This is not the first instance of the child not returning home for extended periods of time.

The girl was entered as a runaway in a national database in case she had police contact out of the area.  Investigators believed she was in the Grand Traverse region with friends.  Efforts by Leelanau and Grand Traverse County deputies were unsuccessful in locating the missing girl since the report was received Monday.

Wednesday afternoon a tip was received that she was in the company of a 23 year-old Empire Township man.  Deputies went to his parents home and located the missing girl.  She was returned to her parents and a petition has been requested for incorrigibility.  The man was not arrested but charges of harboring a runaway, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and drug delivery are being requested.