Calling 911: What you need to know
Calling 911 is for emergencies only, but what counts as an emergency?
If your smartphone went off early Friday morning, you have Seth Altman and Hall County to blame.
Texas authorities issued a Blue Alert about 4:50 a.m. Friday, launching a statewide search for a man suspected of shooting Rex Plant, the police chief in the Panhandle town of Memphis, about 80 miles southeast of Amarillo.
The Texas Department of Public Safety stated that Altman, 33, is “wanted for involvement in the killing or serious injury of a law enforcement officer.”
Who is Seth Altman?
Altman is described as a white male, approximately 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 220 pounds. He has blue eyes and red or auburn hair. He was last seen in the 200 block of South Fourth Street in Memphis about 11 p.m. Thursday, wearing a blue T-shirt and blue jeans.
He is considered to be armed and dangerous. Anyone who spots him should call 911 and not approach him, officials said.
Altman is believed to have shot Plant on Thursday night, according to reports.
The police chief was shot multiple times and was flown to a hospital. His condition is unknown.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: $10,000 reward for info leading to arrest of Memphis police chief shooting suspect
Gov. Greg Abbott announced a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect in the shooting of Plant. The DPS has placed Altman on its list of the 10 most wanted fugitives.
“Texas is first and foremost a law-and-order state,” Abbott said in a press release. “Law enforcement officers selflessly put their lives on the line each day they put on their badge, and they deserve to know that they have the full support of the State of Texas. I encourage anyone with information relating to this crime to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online to help law enforcement bring this dangerous criminal to justice. Cecilia and I are praying for the swift recovery of Chief Rex Plant and for his loved ones during this difficult time.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers at 800-252-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip through the Texas 10 Most Wanted website or online at p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=650.
Where is Hall County, Texas?
Hall County is in the southeastern Panhandle east of the High Plains. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it has a population of 2,825. Memphis is the county seat.
What is a Blue Alert?
A Blue Alert is issued for people who are suspected of killing or seriously wounding local, state or federal law enforcement officers, according to the DPS.
The Blue Alert program was created in 2008 and is designed to ensure that suspects are quickly apprehended.
These criteria must be met before a Blue Alert can be issued under a person’s name, according to the DPS:
- A law enforcement officer must have been killed or seriously injured by an offender.
- Authorities must believe the suspect poses a serious risk or threat to the public and law enforcement personnel.
- A description of the suspect’s vehicle, vehicle tag or partial tag must be available so it can be broadcast to the public.
- The investigating law enforcement agency must recommend activating the Blue Alert to the DPS.
How to turn off emergency alerts on your phone
Disabling emergency alerts on iPhone and Android devices might be slightly different:
- For Android users: Go to settings. Select Notifications or Apps & Notifications. Navigate to Wireless Emergency Alerts or Advanced, then select Emergency Alerts. Toggle Amber Alerts, Severe Alerts and Extreme Alerts on or off. On older phones, you might need to delve deeper into Settings to locate the options.
- For iPhone users: Open Settings. Select Notifications, scroll to the bottom and toggle Amber Alerts and Emergency Alerts on or off.
What are Texans saying about the blue alert?
Many Texans were irate about the Blue Alert early this morning and took to social media to let it be known.
Here are some reactions via X.
USA TODAY staff writers Alex Driggars and Julia Gomez contributed to this report.
This story was updated to add a video and new information.