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Drake Bell insists heโd just left his mobile phone in the car for the night after police found him โsafeโ and โunharmedโ.
The former Nickelodeon actor had been reported missing by Daytona Beach Police on Thursday (13.04.23), who said on Facebook the โDrake and Joshโ star was also โendangeredโ.
But hours later, they told Page Six: โWe can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr Bell is safe.โ
The Orange County Sheriffโs Office added that Drake โ whose first TV appearance was aged five on โHome Improvementโ โ had been found in their jurisdiction โunharmedโ at around 11.30am, and that deputies โtook actionโ to ensure he received a โmental health evaluation.โ
And the 36-year-old star has now broken his silence and claimed he was safe but unreachable.
He tweeted: โYou leave your phone in the car and donโt answer for the night and this?โ
Drake had last been seen just before 9pm on Wednesday near Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, a day after he had enjoyed a day at SeaWorld, Orlando, with his young son, who he has with his estranged wife, Janet Von Schmeling.
The police statement on Facebook read: โMISSING Officers are looking for Jared Bell, DOB 06/27/1986.
โHe should be travelling in a 2022 grey BMW and his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School on 4/12/2023 just before 9p.m. He is considered missing and endangered.โ
When fans asked if it was a hoax, police clarified: โFor those asking, this is a legitimate post from the Daytona Beach Police Department.โ
Drake was seen in December sucking from balloons in his car while in a parking lot, while on two-year probation at the time, stemming from two criminal charges he pleaded guilty to in 2021 for child endangerment and a disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.
Prosecutors claimed the actor had met a girl who attended one of his concerts in Cleveland in 2017 and sent her โinappropriate social media messages.โ
He was also charged with driving under the influence in 2015.