Fort Collins Police Locate Missing 91-Year-Old Man After Public Appeal
Fort Collins Police Services announced early November 8 that a 91-year-old man named James returned home safely after going missing the previous evening, bringing a swift resolution to a case that prompted a public alert spanning multiple Northern Colorado jurisdictions.
James was last seen around 10:15 p.m. on November 7 driving his brown 2012 Buick Lacrosse near Fort Lupton. Police issued a missing at-risk adult alert at 10:30 p.m. that evening describing James as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, and wearing a white sweatshirt, dark pants and eyeglasses.
The department confirmed James returned home by 12:15 a.m. on November 8, approximately 90 minutes after the public alert was issued. Fort Collins Police thanked the public for sharing the original post.
James's family had expressed concern for his welfare when they contacted police, prompting the at-risk designation and public appeal for assistance.
At-Risk Adult Classification Requires Specific Criteria
Colorado law defines an at-risk adult as any person 18 or older who is unable to perform or obtain services necessary for health, safety or welfare, or who lacks sufficient understanding to make responsible decisions about their person or affairs, according to Colorado Revised Statutes Section 26-3.1-101. Adults 70 or older are automatically considered at-risk elders under state law.
Fort Collins Police Services policy defines missing at-risk persons as those who are out of their safety zone, mentally or behaviorally disabled, missing over 24 hours, in a life-threatening situation, or absent in a way inconsistent with routines that would cause a reasonable person to believe they are at risk.
Public alerts for at-risk adults are issued when the case meets statutory criteria including imminent danger, vulnerability, age and mental or physical impairment, with local law enforcement verification required before broadcast.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation manages the Senior Alert system for qualifying seniors aged 60 or older with impaired mental conditions when their disappearance poses a credible threat to safety.
Cross-Jurisdiction Coordination Common in Northern Colorado
The case involved coordination between Fort Collins Police Services and agencies in Weld County, where James was last seen near Fort Lupton. While Fort Lupton falls under the jurisdiction of Fort Lupton Police Department or Weld County Sheriff's Office, Fort Collins Police issued the public alert.
Law enforcement agencies routinely work cooperatively under interagency agreements when missing person cases cross city or county boundaries. Colorado peace officers have authority to pursue investigations across jurisdictions when following leads or assisting local authorities.
Missing person cases in Northern Colorado are coordinated through regular protocols involving the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, National Crime Information Center entries and mutual aid agreements that require agencies to communicate and share information across jurisdictional lines.
Fort Collins Police searched for a missing 78-year-old man named George on November 1 in a similar case involving an endangered senior.
Fort Collins Police Services does not require a waiting period before accepting missing person reports, following Colorado state law and national best practices that mandate immediate investigation of missing persons cases.
Contact Fort Collins Police Services at 970-221-6540 for non-emergency assistance.