Family joyfully reunites with man who went missing from IAH

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Luis Leal was patrolling Monday night when he came across a man on East Mount Houston Road who looked very weary.

Deputy Luis Leal says he was, "Leaning against a commercial building, he appeared to be fatigue and lost so I approached him."

Robert "Clay" Harrison told the deputy he was homeless, so Leal helped him to a nearby shelter at a church. A day later, he saw Harrison's picture on the news and learned Harrison wasn't homeless but missing. The deputy went right back to the shelter.

"He recognized me and opened the door and that's when I asked him if he had been missing," says Deputy Leal.

Harrison suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome and has the mental capacity of a 12-year-old. He disappeared after getting off a flight at Bush Airport. His family was worried sick. Co-workers searched the airport all day.

Now he is back with his family thanks to the deputy and HPD at the airport.

"That may be the smallest Houston Police Department in the city but it's the one with the most heart," says Harrison.

Clay, his mother Cindy and Deputy Leal met for the first time today.

"I don't even know what to say. I'm so happy he recognized him and found him for us," says Harrison.

Clay says he was scared and said of Deputy Leal, "He's amazing, thank you sir."

Clay was checked out medically and getting rest.

Deputy Leal says, "I'm lucky God was with us that night and that's why it fell into place." Harrison adds, "He's what every police officer should be."