Runaway teen actress slept at park

Scout Taylor-Compton was missing for two weeks

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updated 6:19 p.m. ET Aug. 26, 2005

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. - A teen actress who apparently ran away from home spent nearly two weeks sleeping at a park and at the residence of a family that took her in, police said.

Scout Taylor-Compton, who recently starred in the comedy “Sleepover,” was reunited with her family Thursday after the Apple Valley Police Department found her.

A high school coach told police one of his students was bragging that a movie star was sleeping at his home, Officer Cesar Molina said.

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When officers went to the house, Taylor-Compton, who had dyed her hair from red to black, darted for cover.

“I see this young girl run ... and they say ‘Scout, they know you are here, come out,”’ Molina said.

Taylor-Compton told officers she had been sleeping at a playground before meeting a family at the park who offered her shelter. A member of the family told the Victorville Daily Press the actress had been having problems at home.

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Police said she appeared in good health and there was no criminal activity during the time she was missing.

“I counseled her,” Molina said. “She is 16, she already has her high school diploma, she has it made at home, she has a life everyone wants theirs to be like, and I told her, ’Don’t blow it.’ And she said ’I know.”’

Along with 2004’s “Sleepover,” Taylor-Compton played a bit part in “13 Going on 30,” with Jennifer Garner, and recently landed a leading role in the Bravo series “Hidden Howie.”