FLORIDA — A Florida Silver Alert has been issued for a missing man last known to be in Indian Rocks in Pinellas County.
The alert was issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for Arturo Ortega, 78, according to an FDLE flyer.
Ortega is described as a white-Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes. FDLE lists him as 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 160 pounds.
FDLE reported his last known area as Indian Rocks, Pinellas County.
Silver Alerts are used to help locate missing older adults, and the public response is a key part of how these cases move quickly. For residents in South Florida, these alerts can still matter because missing-person cases can cross county lines, and tips can come from anywhere.
Authority for the alert sits with FDLE, which issued the statewide notice, while local law enforcement is the point of contact for information. In this case, anyone with information is asked to contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-6200 or call 911.
What happens next is driven by incoming information. FDLE’s flyer directs the public to report sightings or other details directly to law enforcement.
Residents should watch for the identifying details provided in the alert and use the listed phone number or 911 to report information. The official FDLE flyer is posted online at http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MCICSearch/Flyer.asp?ID=517961.
