Mobile Police Ask Public’s Help Finding Missing Man Lonnie Bailey, 21

MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile Police Department is asking the public to help find Lonnie Bailey, a 21-year-old man who has been reported missing and has not been heard from in about two weeks.

Bailey was last heard from on Tuesday, Sept. 22, according to police. Investigators believe he may still be in the Mobile area.

Officers said it is important that Bailey be found soon.

Description

Police describe Bailey as follows:

• Name: Lonnie Bailey
• Age: 21
• Height: About 6 feet 1 inch
• Weight: About 160 pounds
• Last heard from: Sept. 22, 2026
• Believed location: The Mobile area

Police have not released details about the circumstances of his disappearance, what he was last wearing or who last had contact with him.

How to share information

Anyone who knows where Bailey might be, or who has seen or heard from him since Sept. 22, is asked to call the Mobile Police Department right away at 251-208-7211.

If you see someone you believe is Bailey and he appears to be in danger or in need of immediate help, call 911.

Tips for reporting what you know

Even small details can help investigators in a missing person case. Law enforcement agencies generally offer the following guidance to people who think they have useful information:

• Call promptly. Information is most useful when it is fresh. Do not wait to be certain before reaching out; let investigators decide whether a tip is relevant.
• Be specific. Note the date, time and exact location of any sighting or contact, including cross streets, business names or landmarks.
• Describe what you saw. Clothing, the direction he was heading, whether he was alone or with others, and any vehicle involved, including make, model, color and tag number, can all be helpful.
• Preserve messages and posts. If you received a text, call, social media message or other communication from Bailey after Sept. 22, do not delete it. Note the time it was sent and share it with police.
• Do not confront or pursue. If you believe you see him, keep him in sight only if it is safe, and call police rather than trying to intervene yourself.
• Stick to facts. Report what you personally saw or heard, and let officers know if something is secondhand.
• Be careful with rumors online. Sharing official police information about a missing person can help spread the word, but unverified claims and speculation can confuse a search and hurt the person’s family.

Background: reporting a missing adult

A common misconception is that a person must be gone for a set period, such as 24 or 48 hours, before a missing person report can be filed. In general, there is no such waiting period. Families and friends who are concerned about an adult who cannot be reached, especially when the absence is out of character, are encouraged to contact their local police department as soon as possible.

Adults have the right to go somewhere without telling others, and not every missing adult is in danger. But early reports give investigators the best chance to check on a person’s welfare, follow up on leads and, when needed, ask the public for help, as Mobile police are doing in Bailey’s case.

When a missing person is located, police typically announce that the search has ended and ask the public to stop sharing earlier alerts.

At a glance

Lonnie Bailey, 21, has not been heard from since Sept. 22 and is believed to be in the Mobile area. He is about 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds. Anyone with information should contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211.

South AL News will update this report when police share new information.