SB Sheriff's Department Says Missing KEYT Anchor Did Not Get Spe - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

SB Sheriff's Department Says Missing KEYT Anchor Did Not Get Special Treatment

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office says KEYT news anchor Paula Lopez did not get special treatment when she was reported missing Wednesday.

It made national news when Lopez went missing launching a day long search with two K-9 unit and an air support helicopter.

 In the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Policy Manual, it states a missing persons investigation will be launched immediately if the person requires medical attention, has no history of running away and no time frame is required to pass before launching an investigation.

"Paula Lopez didn't receive any preferential treatment," says Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover. "We responded the way we would for anybody who is at-risk or missing."

But a quick look at social media and some people in the public think she did.

"The only special treatment that Paula Lopez received is we were more vague about the area we were searching," says Hoover. "Because her residence is the same as a superior court judge and that location is private."

Lopez was found safely at her home Wednesday night at around 5:30 p.m.

"When there is a concern for somebody's welfare and they may require medical attention, our job is to find them safely," says Hoover. "We do whatever we can no matter what the cost is, no matter who the person is."

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office didn't go into detail as to why Lopez was missing stating it was a "private family matter."