Port Richey man, 80, found 160 miles away

NEW PORT RICHEY -- The Pasco County Sheriff's Office called off a two-day search for a missing 80-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer's after he turned up about 160 miles south of his Port Richey home this morning.

Deputies say the Port St. Lucie Police Department found Don Pandel (left) this morning. The Gulf Highlands man had pulled over to get some rest. He had been driving his white 2002 Ford Focus on two flat tires, police say. A local resident called police.

Pandel said he was going for breakfast around 10 a.m. Sunday, deputies say, but hadn't been seen again until this morning. His family says he suffers from dementia and likely forgot where he lives.

Pandel was taken to a Port St. Lucie hospital for observation.

-- Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer