Alert issued for Sarasota teen missing since Labor Day

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Courtesy: Sarasota Police Department

Police in Sarasota are looking for a teenager who’s been missing since Labor Day.

According to police, 14-year-old Jabez Spann, was last seen in the 1500 block of 23rd Street in Sarasota during the evening hours of Monday, September 4. He is described as a black male, 5-foot-9, weighing 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

The community is coming together to help, as volunteers are doing what they can to spread the word about the teen's disappearance.

“He’s not my biological son, but he’s my son. We have to watch over each other,” said volunteer Natasha Clemons.

Clemons explained the same community helped her when her son was killed. She’s now speaking on behalf of Spann’s family. She describes his relatives as being uneasy ever since the teen’s disappearance two weeks ago.

“They’re in complete suspense they don’t know how to feel right now,” said Clemons.

Community members are going door-to-door and car-to-car handing out fliers and asking for help in bringing Spann’s mother peace.

“She doesn’t know, just like all of us, she does not know, but she states to me that she’s preparing herself for the worst,” said Clemons.

Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette Dipino explained there is no evidence Spann was abducted, but still not knowing the exact whereabouts of the teen has her and the department worried.

“He may just have run away from home or he could be missing under unusual circumstances at this point we have no idea,” said DiPino.

Officials say efforts to find the teen included pinging his phone and tracking his social media activity, but those gave no indication of Spann’s location.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to call Detective Megan Buck at 941-954-7067 or dial 911.