Man Arrested in Stock Island After Harboring Teen Runaway

Monroe County deputies arrested 25 year old Maykol Campos Gutierrez on Tuesday after investigators said he allowed a 17 year old runaway from Douglas County, Georgia to live at his home on Stock Island for roughly a month. Officials with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the teen told Campos Gutierrez she was 17 and that people were looking for her, and that he made no effort to notify law enforcement or child protection agencies. He was booked on a charge of interference with custody of a minor and was being held on a 25,000 dollar bond.

The case underlines immediate child safety concerns for Monroe County neighborhoods and shelters. Runaway youth are often at increased risk of exploitation, trauma, and untreated mental health needs. When a missing child crosses state lines, gaps in communication and reporting can delay reunification and access to services. Local law enforcement and child welfare systems are the first lines of response, but their work depends on timely reporting by community members and clear pathways for cross jurisdiction cooperation.

For residents, this arrest serves as a reminder of legal and ethical obligations when a minor discloses they are missing or says they are being sought by others. Harboring a minor without reporting can lead to criminal charges, and more importantly it can leave a young person without protections or connections to resources that address safety, health, and long term stability. Community organizations and service providers in Monroe County must be prepared to identify and respond to unaccompanied minors, and to coordinate with agencies in other states when needed.

Beyond this individual case, the incident points to broader systemic pressures that contribute to youth running away, including family conflict, gaps in mental health care, and limited affordable housing. Addressing those root causes will require sustained investment in prevention, trauma informed services, and interagency communication across county and state lines. For now, deputies have the accused in custody and the child’s circumstances have prompted renewed attention to how the community identifies and protects vulnerable young people.