Authorities issued California's first-ever Silver Alert today after an 82-year-old Elk Grove man went missing Monday afternoon.
They are searching for Robert Grappi, who relies on regular medication and may have dementia, according to the Elk Grove Police Department. He left his Elk Grove house around 3:30 p.m. Monday after arguing with his wife and was believed to be driving to his son's house in Nevada County.
Grappi's disappearance triggered a Silver Alert in Sacramento, Placer and Nevada Counties today. The Silver Alert is a brand-new program in which the California Highway Patrol asks news media, law enforcement and the public for help in locating elderly individuals believed to be at risk. CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader said the Silver Alert was the first issued in California since the law took effect today.
Unlike Amber Alerts, the decade-old system used to locate missing children, Silver Alerts do not show up on electronic highway signs.
Elk Grove police described Grappi as a white male 5 feet 9 inches tall who weighs 142 pounds. He has gray hair and brown eyes and was wearing a black jacket, white T-shirt and blue sweat pants. Police said he routinely wears an American flag or other patriotic items and was driving a 1998 Toyota RAV4 with California license plate ATSAOK2.
Elk Grove police urge anyone who has seen Grappi to call the department's dispatch office at (916) 691-5246.
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