Missing Crystal Lake teen found safe

A Crystal Lake teen who had been missing for a week was found Monday, safe and unharmed, police said.

Brandon M. Vela, 17, went missing Sept. 14 after walking away from a family member in Crystal Lake, authorities said. Deputy Chief of Operations Tom Kotlowski said the teen claimed to have been walking to work, but he did not show up, nor did he return home later that day.

After searching for a week, police found Vela on Monday in Crystal Lake, Kotlowski said. The teen was in good health and had no injuries, he said.

Vela did not return home on his own, Kotlowski said, but he declined to comment further on how or where police tracked him down.