A 64-year-old man who disappeared near the intersection of 24th Street and Roosevelt Street has been found safe and reunited with his family. Dale Hobbs, who relies on a medical condition requiring daily medication, had been the subject of a public appeal for information after he was last seen on October 5.
Phoenix Police confirmed the update Wednesday, writing simply that Dale has been safely located and reunited with his family, according to a post from Phoenix Police
. Before he was found, authorities had described Hobbs as 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 137 pounds, with brown eyes and black and white hair, details shared publicly as part of the search effort near the intersection.
Search Near 24th Street and Roosevelt
Police requested public tips in the search for Hobbs after he was last seen near 24th Street and Roosevelt Street.
Cases involving a missing adult with a documented medical condition fall under Arizona's broader framework for locating vulnerable residents. The state's Seek and Find Emergency Alert system, known as SAFE Alert, officially replaced the old Silver Alert program on September 26, 2025, under House Bill 2894, streamlining how the public is notified when vulnerable residents disappear, per the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
How Arizona's SAFE Alert System Works
Codified under A.R.S. § 41-1728, the SAFE Alert framework broadened who qualifies for a statewide notification. Eligibility now extends beyond seniors aged 65 and older to include people of any age who have a diagnosed developmental or cognitive disability, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The law also bars law enforcement agencies from delaying or denying a SAFE Alert request once the statutory criteria are met and requires officers to undergo biannual training on alert protocols.
Before a statewide alert can be triggered, investigating officers must confirm the missing person vanished under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, that the person is in potential danger due to health or environmental factors, and that local checks — including hospital, jail, and NCIC database searches — have already been exhausted, the agency's protocol states. Arizona's alert infrastructure also includes the separate Turquoise Alert, or Emily's Law, which covers missing endangered individuals under 65, including tribal members, under a different statute, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Who Handles Missing Person Cases in Phoenix
Within the Phoenix Police Department, missing adult and juvenile reports are handled by the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, part of the Family Investigations Bureau, which processes thousands of cases each year, according to the City of Phoenix. People seeking help with a missing-person case can contact the unit.
Anyone with information on a missing person case in Phoenix is asked to contact the department's Missing Persons Unit at (602) 534-2121; after-hours and weekend calls can be directed to 602-262-6141.
