The NYPD is seeking the public’s help locating a 24-year-old man reported missing from the Morris Heights section of The Bronx who was last seen in lower Manhattan at an address opposite Manhattan Detention Center.

 

Police said Branden Lopez, 24, of 1928 University Avenue in The Bronx was last seen leaving 139 Centre Street in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at around 9.17 a.m. They said he’s described as White, Hispanic, male, is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs around 310 pounds, has brown hair, and brown eyes. Police said no last known clothing description for Lopez was available.

 

His last known location at 139 Centre Street is located just a few blocks from 26 Federal Plaza courthouse where, as reported, people have been taken into custody by federal law enforcement on the spot in recent months, despite the protestations of family members, lawyers and elected officials.

 

Norwood News reached out to the NYPD to ask if it was known whether Lopez potentially had a court appointment on the day he was last seen. An NYPD spokesperson said, “So, the 139 Centre Street is the same address as for the Dunkin Donuts, so that’s where the missing was last seen, so it has nothing to do with the court or any federal building but just, you know, shares the same address with the court building.”

 

We asked again, nonetheless, if the NYPD knew whether Lopez had an immigration appointment on Wednesday. The spokesperson said, “We don’t deal with immigration. I know that based on the name and stuff you’re maybe like thinking that it could be related to immigration but it’s not. Like I said, that was just the last location he was seen. That’s what I can tell you.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.