Sharonville honors Chef's Cafe co‑owner after he finds missing autistic boy

Sharonville City Council and the city's police and fire departments recognized Paul Miranda, co‑owner of Chef's Cafe, on July 8 after he located a missing autistic boy during an early‑morning search on June 22. Mayor Hartman and public safety officials presented Miranda and his wife Laura with a citation honoring their role in a safe outcome.

The safety service and public‑safety leaders described a multi‑agency search that used drone teams, K‑9s, bike patrol and foot patrols across Sharon Woods and nearby areas. According to the presentation, the department activated its urban search and rescue practices and used mass notifications and social media to coordinate volunteers and residents.

Paul Miranda told council he saw the child, Matthew, on his way to work and stopped to help. "I pulled over, called Sharonville immediately and said, 'I found him,'" Miranda said. He described giving the boy water and a carrot and waiting for officers to arrive. Miranda said he was humbled by the attention and credited a chain of small actions — including his wife's sharing of the social‑media post — for the outcome.

City officials praised the community response and said the recognition was intended to highlight routine vigilance by residents as well as professional emergency response. Fire leadership and police also thanked Miranda and his wife, Laura, for their assistance and urged residents to continue using the city's reporting tools during emergencies.

The presentation did not result in any formal action by council; it concluded with photos and remarks of appreciation.