Family advocate alleges police neglect in missing-person case; council asks staff to follow up

A caller from Tennessee, Jacqueline Beian, used public comment time to urge Tulare’s council to intervene in the disappearance of Michael Hernandez, who she said has been missing since Feb. 14, 2026. Representing the missing person’s family, Beian alleged that the Tulare Police Department classified the case as "voluntary" and failed to report the case within the state’s required window.

"Officer Robert Vazquez has insisted on classifying Michael's case as voluntarily missing," Beian said during the phone-in comment period. "This misclassification violates California Penal Code 14211, which mandates that at-risk cases receive immediate priority. Because of this, the department bypassed the mandatory 2-hour state reporting window."

Beian told council she and the family had received ransom material and proof-of-life images and that the department had declined to interview persons last seen with Michael. She asked the council to demand reclassification of the case to at-risk or kidnapping, transfer the matter to the appropriate investigations division, and open an internal-affairs inquiry into the officer’s handling of the case.

Council response: Members said this was the first they had heard of the matter and asked staff to consult with the police chief and report back. City staff confirmed they would follow up; no further investigative details or confirmations were presented at the meeting.

Status: The allegation was raised in public comment and recorded on the council record; the council directed staff to contact police leadership and return with information. No investigative action or findings were presented during the council meeting.

What residents should know: The public comment is a request for action; it does not itself change investigative status. Council and staff follow-up was requested on the record.