Missouri Highway Patrol mistakenly sends Batman-themed alert | Today Headlines

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol alert sent cellphones ringing across the state: Authorities in Gotham City, Mo., were looking for a purple and green 1978 Dodge 3700GT.

But there’s no Gotham City, Missouri, and the car referenced was the one used by the Joker in the 1989 movie “Batman.” Shortly after the Tuesday night alert, the patrol sent another saying to ignore it.

In a brief press release, the patrol said a routine test of Missouri’s Blue Alert system was inadvertently transmitted statewide. The system aims to notify the public when a police officer is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

“During testing, an option was incorrectly selected allowing the message to be released to the public,” the statement said. A message left with the patrol on Wednesday requesting additional information was not immediately returned.