Drake Bell has taken to social media to explain why he was declared missing by police in Florida.
Daytona Beach police department issued a missing person alert via Facebook on Thursday, saying the 36-year-old actor had disappeared and was considered endangered.
Hours later, officials updated the post saying that they were in contact with Bell, whose full name is Jared Drake Bell, was in contact with them and that he was safe.
** UPDATE: 4/13/2023 1:26p.m. - At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is...
Posted by Daytona Beach Police Department on Thursday, April 13, 2023
The “Drake & Josh” star took to Twitter on Thursday, saying “You leave your phone in the car and don’t answer for the night and this?” along with a laughing emoji, E! News reported.
You leave your phone in the car and don’t answer for the night and this? 😂
— DrakeBell.ethᵍᵐ (@DrakeBell) April 13, 2023
That was the only statement Bell made about the incident, Billboard reported. He didn’t say where he was or why the police issued the alert.
In addition to starring in “Drake & Josh,” Bell was also a member of “The Amanda Show” and was Timmy Turner in the live-action version of “The Fairly OddParents” films, Variety reported.
Bell has a criminal record after pleading guilty to a felony charge of attempting to endanger children and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles in 2021, Variety reported. He was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service.
The case focused on an incident between the adult actor, who was 31 at the time, and a 15-year-old girl in December 2017. He was accused of having inappropriate conduct with the girl at a club where he had been scheduled to perform, TMZ reported. Police said the pair connected for two months via social media, exchanging messages that were “at times ... sexual in nature,” Variety reported.
He had recently completed his probation in that case, according to TMZ.
Bell was also arrested in 2014 for DUI with bail set at $20,000. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge and spent four days behind bars, Variety reported.
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