A false story about a lost child, which has been circulating on social media around the country, found its way to Butte recently.
Butte Sheriff Ed Lester confirmed to MTN News on Friday there was no lost toddler found wandering around Butte.
According to the social media post, which was shared numerous times on Facebook by people in Butte, a boy approximately 3 years old was found by police “last night” walking behind a home in Butte and the boy didn’t know where he lived or how he got there.
The post features a picture of an unidentified child with apparent bruises to his face.
“Didn’t happen,” Lester told MTN News when asked if this story was true.
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The post also claims a Deputy Ryan Braidley found the child, though there is no officer by that name who works for Butte Law Enforcement.
This same post has been circulating over the past week claiming the same thing happened in other towns around the country.
And similar posts with different names and photos are also circulating on Facebook - here are several recent examples:
Although there is no obvious financial benefit to the people who make such bogus posts, sharing such posts could lessen the impact of genuine posts about missing children from law enforcement agencies and news outlets.
