Early Friday morning, Texas residents were jolted awake by a Blue Alert notification that buzzed across smartphones statewide. The alert, issued around 4:50 a.m. on October 4, was part of a coordinated effort by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office to locate a suspect involved in a violent incident against a law enforcement officer.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Seth Altman, is wanted in connection with the shooting of Memphis Police Chief Rex Plant, who was shot multiple times during the incident. Altman is now facing charges of attempted capital murder, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Who is Seth Altman?
Seth Altman is described as a white male, approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds. He has red hair and blue eyes. At the time of the alert, he was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt and blue jeans in the 200 block of South 4th Street in Memphis, Texas, a small city located about 85 miles southeast of Amarillo. Authorities believe he was traveling on foot and heading toward U.S. Highway 287.
Why Was the Blue Alert Issued?
A Blue Alert is activated when there is a serious threat to the public or law enforcement due to a suspect involved in the serious injury or killing of a law enforcement officer. The Texas Blue Alert Program, established in 2008, aims to quickly apprehend suspects who pose a significant risk to the community. For a Blue Alert to be issued, several criteria must be met:
- A law enforcement officer must have been killed or seriously injured by an offender.
- Authorities must believe the suspect poses a serious risk to the public and law enforcement personnel.
- A description of the suspect's vehicle or partial tag must be available for public dissemination.
- The investigating law enforcement agency must recommend activating the Blue Alert to the Texas DPS.
How to Manage Emergency Alerts on Your Phone
For those who wish to disable emergency alerts on their smartphones, here’s how to do it:
For Android Users:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Notifications or Apps & Notifications.
- Navigate to Wireless Emergency Alerts or Advanced.
- Toggle Amber Alerts, Severe Alerts, and Extreme Alerts on or off.
For iPhone Users:
- Open Settings.
- Select Notifications.
- Scroll to the bottom and toggle Amber Alerts and Emergency Alerts on or off.
Stay informed and safe as authorities continue their search for Seth Altman. Your awareness and vigilance can help ensure community safety during this critical time.