UPDATE: TEEN WAS FOUND SAFE Tonkawa police issues Kasey Alert for runaway teen

TONKAWA — Tonkawa police initiated a Kasey Alert at 1:38 p.m. Wednesday for Ava Brotherton, 13, who was last seen in Tonkawa overnight.

Officials report that she was carrying a backpack with black letters that say NIKE.

Tonkawa police chief Nick Payne said that at this time police believe she is a runaway who left in the middle of the night and they do not suspect foul play.

Payne said Tonkawa is the first agency to use the new Kasey Alert System that went into effect on Nov. 1. (see story)

Shortly after issuing the alert, a resident called Ponca City police and advised they saw someone matching Brotherton’s description near Union and Hartford at about 12:30 p.m. Payne said his department also received a report that someone matching Brotherton’s description was walking near a bridge on the highway south of Ponca City.

Anyone with information on the teen’s location is urged to call 911.