A 79-year-old Phoenix man with a medical condition that can cause disorientation is missing after leaving a grocery store Sunday, and authorities believe he may have boarded a northbound city bus. A SAFE Alert was issued Tuesday as investigators try to retrace his movements through central Phoenix.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Paul Campos Martinez was last seen around 4:30 p.m. near the Los Altos Ranch Market at 16th Street and Roosevelt Street. Officials believe he traveled north on a Phoenix city bus along 16th Street, while possible debit card activity was later detected near 16th Street and Thomas Road. Anyone with information is asked to contact Phoenix police at (602) 262-6151.
KTAR News reports that Martinez is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored shirt and black pants, details that could help riders, shoppers and residents spot him.
Why Arizona Issued A SAFE Alert
The Arizona Department of Public Safety says SAFE Alerts are used for missing people who are at least 65 years old or who have certain developmental or cognitive disabilities, including dementia. The system is reserved for cases in which a missing person's life may be in peril, making the public's help especially urgent in Martinez's case.
