UPDATE: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has canceled this Purple Alert. You can view the FDLE cancellation notice here.
FLORIDA — A Florida Purple Alert has been issued for a missing man last known to be in the Leesburg area, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
FDLE said the alert is for William Pickett, 67, from Leesburg in Lake County. He is described as a white male with blonde hair and blue eyes, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 180 pounds.
The last known area listed on the FDLE flyer is Leesburg, in Lake County.
FDLE is the state agency that posts and distributes the Purple Alert information through its Missing Persons Clearinghouse. The local law enforcement agency handling tips and response in this case is the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Residents in South Florida may see the alert shared online or through statewide channels. Even though the last known area is in Central Florida, missing-person alerts can travel quickly across the state, and people move. That is why FDLE asks anyone who recognizes the person or has information to report it.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office at 352-343-2101 or call 911.
The FDLE flyer remains active as the official public reference for the alert and includes the identifying description and contact information for tips. What happens next depends on leads coming in to the sheriff’s office and any follow-up updates issued through FDLE.
For residents, the key details to watch are the name, description, and the last known area. If you believe you have seen the missing person or have information that could help locate him, authorities are asking you to call right away rather than post tips to social media.
