The community-wide effort to locate 74-year-old Lewis Fuqua ended on a positive note late Saturday afternoon when he was found following a minor, non-injury car crash in Washington County. According to the Portland Police Bureau, Fuqua had been the subject of a Silver Alert, a public notification system to broadcast information about missing persons—especially seniors with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other mental disabilities. The alert has now been canceled.
Details from the Portland Police Bureau website explain that after the crash, nearby community members reached out to law enforcement which led to Fuqua being safely found and the situation that ensued was handled efficiently by the authorities, and now Lewis is back with his family and he is also undergoing a medical evaluation to ensure his wellbeing. The local law enforcement community and Fuqua's family expressed their gratitude for the support of the public and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with special thanks to those who assisted in sharing information about Fuqua’s disappearance.
The recovery of Fuqua highlights the success of the Silver Alert system and serves as a reminder of the critical role that civilians play in aiding such searches. The Portland Police Bureau's public statement recognized the cooperative efforts between police departments and the general public. In their message, the Portland Police Bureau stated, "The Portland Police Bureau is grateful to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance, the public for looking out for Lewis, and for everyone who shared his information in an effort to locate him."
