ST. CLOUD, Minn. - St. Cloud Police say the search for a missing 17-year-old continues.
Aaliyah Christine Kazimer of Annandale was reported missing Sunday and has not been seen or heard from since. Those concerned about her tell authorities Kazimer was last seen at an address on County Road 120 in St. Cloud at 5 p.m. Saturday night.
During a search for the teen Sunday, family members located the vehicle she was driving at Riverside Park, and a bloodhound called in by police tracked a scent to an area approximately half a mile south of the park, near the edge of the Mississippi River.
Police say the ground search ended at about 12:30 p.m. Monday, and at that time air searches by drone and water searches by boat were both called off due to weather.
Kazimer's father, Michael, told KARE 11's Zach Lashway on Monday that he is hopeful they'll find his daughter.
"She is just a wonderful 17-year-old girl and I know that we can find her," said Michael Kazimer. "And I'm just working so closely with St. Cloud Police Department. I'm grateful for them and God's hand is guiding them in this investigation and I know with the public's help that we'll be able to find Aaliyah."
Michael Kazimer said he last spoke to his daughter Saturday morning. They talked about her art show that was scheduled that afternoon in Golden Valley. He showed up and she did not.
Kazimer is scheduled to graduate from Annandale High School Wednesday and attend tech school in Madison in the fall.
"Where is she? Where could she have possibly gone?" said Kazimer's friend, Brittney Manthie. "And what Annandale is going to be like when she is not there … I was in the senior video with her. We have a couple snippets where it’s just me and her and that’s going to be really hard to watch without her being there."
On Tuesday, police said the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office is helping search the river. United Legacy is helping the family coordinate ground searches.
Kazimer is described as an Asian female, approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall and 120 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black button-up shirt and dark colored running shorts.
Anyone who has seen Aaliyah Christine Kazimer or knows of her whereabouts is asked to call St. Cloud Police at 320-251-1200.