200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

ThomasMPatton@KingsportTN.gov • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com

On October 8, 2015 at approximately 6:00 PM, Kingsport Central Dispatch was notified of another missing man with Alzheimer’s Disease. Several officers responded promptly to the scene to search and investigate. Michael Lester Stauffer, of Tool City, Texas, was reportedly driving a vehicle, with his wife as a passenger, in the Kingsport area when he became disoriented.

In frustration, he stopped the vehicle in the middle of the roadway on the exit ramp from eastbound Interstate 26 to Eastern Star Road. He got out of the vehicle and told his wife that he was going to walk home (to Texas). He began walking west, back down the ramp toward the Interstate. His wife had to get out and move over to the driver’s seat and pull the car to the shoulder of the road for safety. When she looked back up, she had lost sight of him.

Numerous first responders from multiple neighboring agencies flooded the area, searching for Mr. Stauffer. Kingsport Central Dispatch initiated a mass telephone notification message across the surrounding areas of both Sullivan and Washington Counties. At approximately 8:30 PM, officers were notified of a possible sighting of Mr. Stauffer and soon located him nearby on Fordtown Road. He was successfully reunited with his wife, and although appearing uninjured, he was transported to a local medical facility for a precautionary evaluation.

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit