The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spearheaded an urgent search and confirmed 86-year-old Arthur Bruce from Johnson City safe in Arkansas this morning. Bruce, whose disappearance sparked a statewide Silver Alert due to a medical condition that potentially jeopardized his ability to safely navigate home unassisted, was last seen yesterday.
Arthur Bruce's physical description, as disseminated widely during the search, noted his height at 5’3″, his weight at 140 pounds, and distinct features including gray hair, and brown eyes with a U.S. Navy tattoo adorning his arm. It was believed that he might have been traveling in a gray 2024 Ford Ranger, bearing the Tennessee temporary tag QH9YN1V8, as WJHL reported.
The efforts to locate Bruce spanned multiple states and prompted public calls for assistance in locating the elderly man. The TBI took the lead, reaching out to the community and leveraging the Silver Alert system, designed to aid in the swift recovery of at-risk adults. The Carter County Sheriff's Office also played a pivotal role in fielding calls and information from the public regarding Bruce's whereabouts.
"If you have any information on his whereabouts, call the Carter County Sheriff’s Office at 423-542-1845 or 1-800-TBI-FIND," became a familiar refrain in the community as local citizens and law enforcement agencies pulled together in their concern for Bruce's safety, according to WATE. Bruce's condition and specific whereabouts at the time he was found have not been released, but authorities have emphasized he is safe.
