:focal(660x1145:670x1135):format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/2KHGQIHRXVDMTBLJPVAAVZZZQE.png "A screenshot of the Blue Alert sent out on June 24, 2021.")
Volusia County activated a Blue Alert on Thursday shortly after 1 p.m., triggering an emergency alert popup on phones around Florida. Clicking on the link lead to a few pictures and some text about a suspect.
“A Florida BLUE Alert has been issued for Othal Wallace, last seen in the area of the 100 block of Kingston Avenue in Daytona Beach, Florida, wearing a yellow shirt and dark beanie,” reads the brief, before going on to offer more details and advising readers to contact law enforcement immediately if he is seen.
Amber Alerts let people know about missing children, and Silver Alerts are for missing senior citizens. So what are Blue Alerts?
According to the website for Blue Alert Foundation, Inc., this warning system was developed to “speed the apprehension of violent criminals who kill or seriously injure local, state or federal law enforcement officers.”
Florida is one of 36 states that have implemented this alert system as of June 2019.
To read today’s Blue Alert in its entirety, click here.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/5f054728-1f13-43f7-b7b4-60ec48fc855e.png "Gabrielle Calise - Culture, music and nostalgia reporter")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/KYesa8xK92BjyXkI6rfcUBYrrLk=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XPNZ4HSO6RHEBKJ3ZNRSD5BGZE.jpeg "St. Petersburg woman found dead, toddler son missing, police say")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/wyxod_RjWOhYNJDG5NIpXO8oZoA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/JEU65ZE5SG4XCETXJ3EWCFJAKQ.jpg "Fiona, Ian retired from list of tropical cyclone names. What will replace them?")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/gvU3JBYKBXO0225hnMAiW4sJJbM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7POANQGS4RCTRCFPVSPSUP3E2I.jpg "What to know about the killings of St. Petersburg boy and his mom")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/nXt7Ny0Ocev2UnfC9nIKFmgySgA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/B4DVQGTHWRDUNJXYYED23RJN5Y.jpg "Video shows man exiting law office with ‘large cart’ where Pinellas attorney went missing")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/7P_nwMQwpY2lmuaNkKZYDeFK8qw=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GTB44CZIJ3PY35BVRFAF4VWNGE.jpg "DeSantis says Florida will ‘not assist’ in possible Trump extradition after indictment")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Xq-oK7JOPVI2ivfbJ_LgNXtU5S4=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HYCV2V4US6K2SNDLW5V23WTT2M.jpg "Roof collapse kills 1, injures 40, at Florida metal band’s show")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/MU5nJWIGlH5auaw0QylMI0Q-Y_A=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SDZXQ2WE4ZAKZGUTSET52EGL3Y.jpg "St. Petersburg police shoot man who fired at officers from home, sheriff says")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/XIsMhlaOfKLDUCjyuj2TJYeLxGM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/X7KK4WS77NGG5CLMKKQAD3RSWI.jpg "Missing Largo lawyer case records show $300K cash found in doc’s car")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/g7GyyOO5UogpploWrJFcLlnGXms=/fit-in/1200x675/smart/filters:fill(000)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VNR7VICFNRCJ5F6ZNG3BQWOJYM.PNG "Pinellas plastic surgeon faces murder charge of missing lawyer, Steven Cozzi")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/9BKv8iOHKox0cmzAKZOrP8Xi2os=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/H6FRI6TTK5B4ZM7HLXIK23MIWQ.jpg "Here are Florida’s nasty invasive species. Why do we have so many? | Column")