PORTSMOUTH, VA — Virginia State Police canceled a critically missing adult alert after a 32-year-old Portsmouth man was found safe Saturday night. Joseph Nicholas Garcia had been reported missing after last being seen Friday leaving his residence in the 2300 block of Leckie Street.
The alert was issued at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on behalf of the Portsmouth Police Department. State police said Garcia may have been with his two dogs and may have been driving a 2021 blue Nissan Rogue with Virginia license plate UBW-7888.
Officials later said around 9 p.m. that Garcia had been located safely. No additional details were released about where he was found or what led to his disappearance.
How the missing adult alert was issued and canceled
Virginia State Police used its critically missing adult alert system to help spread word about Garcia’s disappearance. The agency said the case met the threshold for the warning because investigators believed the situation posed a credible threat to his health and safety.
The alert was one of several emergency notification tools the department can deploy, including AMBER Alerts, CODI Alerts, Missing Person with Autism Alerts, Blue Alerts and Senior Alerts. In Garcia’s case, the alert was sent out in coordination with Portsmouth police.
Once officials learned Garcia had been found safe, the alert was canceled the same evening. Authorities did not provide a public explanation of how he was located.
What investigators said about Garcia’s last known movements
Garcia was last seen on Sept. 11 in the 2300 block of Leckie Street in Portsmouth, according to Virginia State Police. That address was the starting point for the search described in the alert.
Investigators believed he may have been traveling in a blue Nissan Rogue, a 2021 model with Virginia plate UBW-7888. They also said two dogs may have been in the vehicle with him, a detail meant to help the public identify the car if it was spotted.
Police did not release any information about why Garcia left the area or whether he had spoken with family, friends, or officers before he was found.
Why the alert drew urgent attention in Hampton Roads
Critically missing adult alerts are intended for situations where police believe a missing person may face serious harm. State police said that assessment applied in Garcia’s case, which is why the notice was broadcast publicly.
The system is designed to quickly widen the search by asking the public to watch for a person, vehicle, or other identifying details. In this case, the combination of Garcia’s age, the possible presence of pets, and the vehicle information gave investigators several ways to seek help from the community.
Although the alert was brief, it underscored how quickly authorities can move when they believe someone is in danger. Officials did not say whether any citizen tip directly led to Garcia being found.
What police have and have not said about the case
By Saturday night, the most important question had been answered: Garcia was safe. State police said no further details about the circumstances of his disappearance or recovery would be released at that time.
That means the public record currently includes the alert, the description of Garcia’s last known location, and the vehicle information investigators asked people to watch for. It does not include a timeline of where he was between Friday and Saturday evening.
For now, the case appears to be closed from an urgent public-safety standpoint. Authorities did not indicate whether any follow-up investigation would continue after the alert was canceled.
Virginia State Police alert system includes multiple missing-person categories
The critically missing adult alert is one of six alert programs maintained by Virginia State Police. The department said the list also includes AMBER Alerts, CODI Alerts, Missing Person with Autism Alerts, Blue Alerts and Senior Alerts.
Each program is meant for a different kind of emergency, with the goal of getting information to the public as quickly as possible. In cases like Garcia’s, the alert can help residents recognize a vehicle or person that may be associated with a missing adult.
Virginia State Police and Portsmouth police had urged people to share the notice while Garcia was missing. After he was found safe, that request was no longer needed, but the alert remains a reminder of how state agencies coordinate in urgent missing-person situations.
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