Updated 5:15 p.m. to include additional information about how the child was discovered missing.
A 10-year-old boy deputies were searching for has been found, San Diego County Sheriff's Department officials said. The public was asked to help at one point when a low-flying helicopter was used to broadcast the boy's description.
The disapperance of the boy wearing blue and white checkered shorts was never reported.
Around 9:45 a.m., deputies were in an apartment complex at the corner of Seacoast Drive and Imperial Beach Boulevard searching for a person accused of felony charges when they happened along the mother's open door to find her crying, said Sgt. Fran Passalacqua.
"She said 'my son's been missing since 4 a.m.,'" Passalacqua said.
Deputies located the boy at about 11 a.m.
"He was found sleeping on the rocks" on the beach near the jetty north of Palm Avenue, said Lt. Marco Garmo. "He was staying at apartments at the corner of IB Boulevard and Seacoast Drive visiting mom and walked out of the apartment and onto the beach."
No injuries were reported.
Following the incident, the boy was turned over to relatives.
An investigation will continue to determine whether child abuse has taken place.
Clarification: The original version of this article stated that the boy was reported missing. Text has been modified to reflect that a missing person report was never filed.
