A Purple Alert has been issued for a 33-year-old man, last seen in Martin County.
Juan Mateo was last seen in Stuart and may be traveling northbound on Interstate 95, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse.
A Florida Purple Alert is used to help find a missing adult suffering from a mental or cognitive disability that meets certain criteria.
Here’s how you can help.
Purple Alert issued for missing Stuart man
A Florida Purple Alert was issued July 30 for Juan Mateo, 33, of Stuart.
Mateo was described as a white-Hispanic male with black hair and black eyes. He was last seen wearing a black shirt.
Where was Juan Mateo last seen?
Mateo was last seen in the 2600 block of Southeast Harrison Street in Stuart.
He may be traveling in a 2003 blue Toyota Highlander with Florida tag DR84GN.
The FDLE said Mateo may be traveling north on I-95.
Have information on Juan Mateo? Here’s who to contact
Anyone with information about Mateo can contact FDLE at 1-888-FL-MISSING (1-888-356-4774), call 911 or contact the Martin County Sheriff’s Office at 772-220-7000.
What is a Florida Purple Alert?
A Florida Purple Alert is used to assist in the location of missing adults suffering from a mental or cognitive disability that is not Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder; an intellectual disability or a developmental disability; a brain injury; other physical, mental or emotional disabilities that are not related to substance abuse; or a combination of any of these.
Their disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or serious bodily harm.
Purple Alerts ask for the public’s help in the search for the missing person and provide a standardized and coordinated community response.
7 Purple Alerts currently active in Florida
There currently are seven active Purple Alerts in Florida, dating back to June 2022.
For more details on each of the active Purple Alerts.
Sign up to receive Purple Alerts via email
Sign up to receive Florida Purple Alerts directly to your email. You can be notified as soon as an alert is issued to help with the safe recovery of a missing adult.
When did Florida’s Purple Alert Program begin?
Florida’s Purple Alert Plan was established by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 1, 2021.
Criteria for a Purple Alert to be issued
How does a Purple Alert get activated?
If you have a loved one missing you should contact your local law-enforcement agency immediately. The law-enforcement agency will take a report and determine if a Purple Alert is appropriate.
If the agency determines that the case meets the criteria for a Purple Alert, they will contact the FDLE Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse. Only law enforcement can request a Purple Alert.
How can you file a missing person report?
Contact the local law-enforcement agency of jurisdiction where the missing person was last seen.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://heraldtribune.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Purple Alert issued for missing Florida man. Here’s how you can help
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
