Missing 11-year-old girl sought by Catawba County Sheriff’s Office

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office is searching Wednesday afternoon for an 11-year-old girl who went missing after getting off the school bus Tuesday.

Emily Dowdle, a student at Catawba Elementary School, was last seen by her bus driver around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. She was dropped off by a school bus at her stop and heading to her home on Hudson Chapel Road. Police say no one was home at the time, reports the Observer’s news partner WBTV.

She was reported missing by a family member via a 911 call to Catawba County Communications around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

An investigative road block will be conducted near the girl’s home Wednesday afternoon to speak to drivers who travel that area who may have information that can lead to Emily, officials said.

Investigators and K-9 units have been searching the area for clues. Departments also participating in the search including the Newton Police Department, the Hickory Police Department, and Claremont Police Department, officials said.

Emily is described as being 4 feet, 11 inches tall, with long light brown hair and hazel eyes. She wears black glasses and was last seen wearing a pink shirt and capri jeans.

Police say it's possible this could be a runaway case.

If you have seen Emily, you are asked to call the Catawba County Sheriff's Office at 828-464-3112.

This story was originally published September 28, 2016 at 8:05 AM with the headline "Missing 11-year-old girl sought by Catawba County Sheriff’s Office."