Drake Bell, a former Nickelodeon actor and singer, has made headlines in the last few hours after being reported “missing and endangered.” Authorities have recently provided the public with an update on his current condition.
According to Deadline, the Daytona Beach Police Department announced via their official Facebook page that the musician is now “safe.”
They wrote:
“At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe,”
As of this writing, there is still no word on what happened to the singer during his disappearance. Drake Bell, still married to his estranged wife Janet Von Schemling, has yet to respond on social media.
According to initial reports, police asked the public for assistance in locating the former “Drake and Josh” star. They announced on their page that the singer, whose real name is Jared Bell, was last seen in a gray 2022 BMW vehicle near Mainland High School on the evening of April 12.
At the time, he was classified as “endangered,” which refers to someone thought to be in danger due to health, mental, or physical ability; age is also a common factor. However, the Daytona Beach police department did not explain why Drake Bell was placed in that category.
The singer, best known for co-starring in the hit Nickelodeon teen series with Josh Peck, has been embroiled in controversy in recent years.
According to the BBC, he was charged in 2021 with “attempted child endangerment and disseminating matter harmful to children.” The musician entered a guilty plea.
Bell said in a statement that he accepted his plea because he knew his actions were wrong, adding:
“I’m sorry the victim was harmed. It was not my intention.”
The singer’s music has gained a large following among Hispanic fans in recent years. Drake Campana (Spanish for Bell) became his new stage name.
Many online users claimed that the singer fled to Mexico to avoid authorities after child endangerment allegations surfaced.
However, according to reports, the musician has been speaking and writing songs in Spanish since late 2019, two years before his arrest.