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Missing man, 78, found unhurt at public bus stop

Times Staff Writer
Published January 31, 2004

TARPON SPRINGS - After a brief search, police Friday found a 78-year-old Tarpon Springs man who left his house Thursday night and was thought to have been in jeopardy.

Police said Clifton Thomas is a diabetic who missed at least two shots of insulin and is possibly in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. He was last seen leaving his home on S Levis Avenue driving a white 1993 Ford F250 pickup truck.

About 3 a.m. Friday, a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy stopped the truck with Thomas behind the wheel at Fletcher and 22nd avenues in Tampa. His family reported him missing at 8 a.m., and his truck turned up in Clearwater around 10 a.m.

Tarpon Springs police Officer Paul Comini was headed to the truck when he saw Thomas sitting on a bus stop bench at Aberdeen Street and Edgewater Drive in Clearwater. Thomas was unharmed, but confused, police said.

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