Anthony Thomas, 11, missing from Washington DC

[Jessiesgirl1108]

Article states he is critically missing, not sure what they mean by that...not much out there on this yet.

DC Police are asking for the public's assistance in finding a critically missing 11-year-old boy.

Anthony Thomas was last seen in the 100 block of Ivanhoe St., SW, at approximately 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

Anthony Thomas is described as a very light complexioned black male, 5' 1" in height, weighing approximately 110 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair with a Mohawk hair style, and has a thin build. He was last seen wearing a white shirt with unknown color of pants.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Anthony Thomas is asked to call the police at
(202) 727-9099.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0610/743330.html

[Valasca]

OK, so... if he is "critically missing"... why doesn't that fall under Amber Alert?
I am beginning to think Amber Alert is useless.

[cubby]

Could critically missing mean that he has an illness that needs medication? i don't know I just hope he comes home soon!!

[Dakota Valkyrie]

OK, so... if he is "critically missing"... why doesn't that fall under Amber Alert?
I am beginning to think Amber Alert is useless.

Not all missing kids are abducted. "Critically missing" may just because of his age or other factors.

For an AMBER Alert to be effective in recovering a missing child, the law enforcement agency must have enough information to believe that an immediate broadcast to the public will enhance the efforts of law enforcement to locate the child and apprehend the suspect. This element requires as much descriptive information as possible about the abducted child and the abduction, as well as descriptive information about the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle. Issuing alerts in the absence of significant information that an abduction has occurred could lead to abuse of the system and ultimately weaken its effectiveness.

http://www.amberalert.gov/guidelines.htm

They don't seem to have enough info on it and they are not saying it's an abduction... the main guideline for an Amber Alert.

Advocates for missing children are concerned that the public is becoming desensitized to AMBER Alerts because of a large number of false alarms — where police issue an AMBER Alert without strictly adhering to the U.S. Department of Justice's activation guidelines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMBER_Alert

[Valasca]

EVENTUALLY i will understand Amber Alert.
Right now it's too damned confusing.