Ocala Police Issue Purple Alert for Missing Man
Authorities are searching for 82-year-old Sylvester Cotto, last seen driving a gray 2007 Dodge Ram pickup in Ocala.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Alzheimer’s
The Ocala Police Department issued a Purple Alert for 82-year-old Sylvester Cotto, who was last seen around 10:30 a.m. on November 3 traveling northbound on N Pine Avenue from NW 35th Street. He was driving a gray 2007 Dodge Ram pickup bearing Florida license plate KYCZ05.
Why it matters
Purple Alerts are used to help locate missing adults who have intellectual or developmental disabilities, or other physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. Residents in Ocala are being asked to watch for the vehicle and report any sightings to police.
The alert is based on an official Ocala Police Department notice identifying a specific vehicle and last-known route, with the man's current whereabouts still unknown. Police have not stated whether any sighting has been reported since the disappearance.
The players
Ocala Police Department
The Ocala Police Department is the municipal law enforcement agency responsible for issuing the Purple Alert and leading the search for Sylvester Cotto within the city of Ocala.
Sylvester Cotto
Sylvester Cotto is the 82-year-old man subject of the Purple Alert, whose disappearance prompted the search while he was driving his gray 2007 Dodge Ram pickup.
The details
Cotto was last seen Tuesday morning driving northbound on N Pine Avenue from NW 35th Street. He was wearing a blue shirt, black jeans, and brown boat shoes, and the truck has a front vanity plate reading 'NAVY', black vertical rear-quarter decal striping with the Ram emblem, and a blue awareness ribbon decal on the tailgate.
Timeline
November 3, 2026, around 10:30 a.m.: Cotto last seen traveling northbound on N Pine Avenue from NW 35th Street.
Program Context
Florida's Purple Alert program is designed specifically for missing adults with intellectual, developmental, physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, distinguishing it from broader alert systems. This case applies that framework to an 82-year-old driver whose disappearance triggers the alert based on his disability-related vulnerability.
Ocala residents who see a gray 2007 Dodge Ram with plate KYCZ05 or a man matching Cotto's description are asked to contact police right away. Drivers in the N Pine Avenue and NW 35th Street area should keep an eye out for the vehicle.
The takeaway
Anyone who spots a gray 2007 Dodge Ram with Florida plate KYCZ05 or a man in a blue shirt and black jeans should call the Ocala Police Department immediately rather than approaching him. Quick reporting from the public is a key part of how Purple Alerts help bring vulnerable adults home safely.
Further reading
For more on memory-related conditions that can affect older adults who wander, see Alzheimer’s coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ocala-News.
