Former LA County Sheriff Lee Baca found after wandering from home

Former LA County Sheriff Lee Baca found safe

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was found safe Monday, hours after he was reported missing from his San Marino home.

LOS ANGELES - Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was found safe Monday, hours after he was reported missing from his San Marino home.

According to the San Marino Police Department, officers responded to a call reporting a "critical missing person" Sunday afternoon.

"The caller mentioned that Leroy David Baca, a relative, had left his residence in San Marino ... at 4:38 p.m.," police said in a statement.

"An extensive search for Mr. Baca took place with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Missing Person's Unit, Pasadena Police Department Air Support, Arcadia Police Department K-9 and Claremont Police Department K-9," the statement read.

The 82-year-old was found in an El Monte restaurant and was identified with the help of a bracelet he wears.

Baca, who suffers from Alzheimer's, appeared not injured and "seemed to be in good spirits," officials said.

Baca served as Los Angeles County Sheriff from 1998 to 2014. In 2016, he was convicted of obstructing an FBI investigation into abuse in county jails and served about two years of a three-year sentence in federal prison.

City News Service contributed to this report.