Case Summary
- Case Type
- Missing Persons
- Incident Date
- Saturday
- Incident Time
- 11:15 a.m.
- Location
- Citrus Health, 8400 South Palm Drive, Pembroke Pines, FL
- Investigating Agency
- Pembroke Pines Police Department
- Case Status
- Active search
Authorities in Pembroke Pines, Florida, are asking for the public's assistance in locating a 17-year-old boy who disappeared Saturday morning from a local health facility, according to a public appeal released by the Pembroke Pines Police Department.
Investigators stated that 17-year-old Dorfils Aleus was last seen departing Citrus Health, situated at 8400 South Palm Drive in Pembroke Pines. The teenager reportedly walked away from the facility on foot into an unknown direction, prompting local law enforcement officials to seek leads from community members across Broward County.
Incident Overview
According to the Pembroke Pines Police Department, Dorfils Aleus went missing from Citrus Health around 11:15 a.m. on Saturday. Facility personnel and local authorities noted that Aleus walked away from the 8400 South Palm Drive property, and his current direction of travel remains unconfirmed. Law enforcement personnel have distributed descriptive information to patrol officers and regional dispatchers in an effort to locate him quickly and confirm his safety.
Officials have not publicly disclosed any confirmed sightings since his departure from the South Palm Drive location. Detectives are focusing their efforts on the surrounding residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and potential transit hubs in southwestern Broward County where a pedestrian might seek shelter or transportation.
Victim Information
The missing individual is identified by the Pembroke Pines Police Department as 17-year-old Dorfils Aleus. According to police records, Aleus is described as standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 190 pounds. When he was last observed leaving the Citrus Health facility on Saturday morning, he was dressed in a black Nike hoodie paired with black sweatpants. Authorities have not indicated whether he was in possession of personal funds, a mobile phone, or identification at the time he walked away from the center.
Police Response
Upon receiving the notification that a minor had left the Citrus Health center without authorization, officers with the Pembroke Pines Police Department mobilized to canvas the immediate perimeter along South Palm Drive. Responding units initiated an area search covering nearby intersections, public thoroughfares, and commercial parking lots to locate any sign of Aleus. Dispatch centers broadcasted his physical descriptors and clothing details to active patrol units across neighboring jurisdictions to expand coverage beyond city boundaries.
Investigation
The investigation remains an active missing person inquiry managed by detectives within the Pembroke Pines Police Department. Investigators are reviewing surveillance camera footage from properties adjacent to 8400 South Palm Drive to determine which street or direction Aleus took after walking off. Law enforcement personnel are also coordinating with regional child welfare partners, family members, and local transit networks while processing tips submitted by the public to trace his movements.
Charges Filed
No criminal charges have been filed in connection with this missing persons case, as law enforcement has not identified any underlying criminal conduct or foul play. In missing juvenile inquiries under Florida law, police protocols focus on safety and recovery rather than criminal prosecution. However, statutory frameworks exist should secondary criminal acts come to light during the course of an investigation.
Under Florida Statute 984.085, it is a first-degree misdemeanor for an individual to knowingly harbor, conceal, or assist an unmarried minor who has run away from a parent, legal guardian, or court-ordered placement facility without authorization. A conviction under this statute carries a statutory penalty of up to one year in a county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or a term of probation. Additionally, if an individual takes or entices a child away from legal custody, prosecutors may evaluate charges under Florida Statute 787.03 for interference with custody, which can be prosecuted as a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in state prison. Authorities have not suggested that any individual is harboring Aleus or interfering with his custody.
Court Information
Because this matter is an open missing person investigation and not a criminal prosecution, there are no criminal court filings, active dockets, or scheduled arraignments associated with the case. Formal court proceedings in Florida juvenile welfare matters generally occur within the civil or family divisions of the county circuit court, rather than the criminal justice system.
If a missing juvenile requires state intervention upon location, the case may come before the Broward County Circuit Court under child-in-need-of-services or dependency statutes governed by Florida Chapter 39 or Chapter 984. In such administrative scenarios, hearings address appropriate placement, mental health care, or familial reunification under judicial supervision. If criminal activity involving an adult is subsequently discovered by detectives, any resulting criminal case would be assigned a formal case number and docketed with the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.
Statements from Authorities
The Pembroke Pines Police Department issued a formal appeal asking for community cooperation, stating that authorities seek the public's help in finding the missing teen. Officials emphasized that anyone who observes Aleus or possesses knowledge regarding his present location should immediately contact local law enforcement to ensure his welfare.
Public Safety Information
Members of the public who observe Dorfils Aleus or have information regarding his whereabouts are instructed not to approach him aggressively, but instead to notify local law enforcement immediately by calling 911 or the Pembroke Pines Police Department non-emergency number. In addition, individuals with tips regarding missing youth may contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, a toll-free national hotline available around the clock to support law enforcement agencies in tracing and protecting missing children.
What Happens Next
The Pembroke Pines Police Department will continue active field patrols, follow up on neighborhood tips, and review potential digital and video leads until Dorfils Aleus is safely located. Once located, law enforcement officers routinely conduct a welfare check to evaluate any immediate medical or psychological needs before coordinating with facility administrators, legal guardians, or child welfare officials regarding proper placement and safety protocols.
