Missing Carrollton man found through Silver Alert

by PegNews wire

CARROLLTON — On November 5, 2008 the Carrollton Police Department requested the Texas Department of Public Safety to activate the Texas Silver Alert Network system to notify and request the public’s assistance in locating a critical missing 71 year old male, John Massingale.

Mr. Massingale failed to return home after leaving his residence to purchase a newspaper. Family members, concerned for Mr. Massingale’s safety, contacted the Carrollton Police Department to report him missing.

The Texas Silver Alert Network system is a public notification system designed to alert the public and law enforcement agencies watch for missing adults with cognitive impairments and is modeled after the Amber Alert system.

After the Texas Silver Alert was activated for Mr. Massingale, a motorist driving on Central Expressway in Dallas observed the Silver Alert on a Texas Department of Transportation message board. The motorist then observed a car matching the description of Mr. Massingale’s vehicle traveling on Central Expressway. The motorist contacted Dallas Police, who located Mr. Massingale. Dallas Police Officers contacted Mr. Massingale and safely returned him to his residence and waiting family members in Carrollton.

The family members and Carrollton Police Department are thankful to the motorist and Dallas Police officers that located Mr. Massingale and brought him safely home. “This is a situation that could have had a tragic ending; however, due to the Silver Alert Network System, the support of local news media, attentive motorists, and cooperation between multiple police agencies, this situation was safely resolved," said Sgt. Singleton

Source: Carrollton Police Dept.