Missing A&M Football Player Found Safe

Dallas police take student into custody early Thursday morning

NBC 5 has learned that Dallas police took into custody a missing Texas A&M student-athlete who was located early Thursday morning.

Texas A&M University police confirmed that Thomas Linze Johnson, a graduate of Dallas' Skyline High School and a freshman wide receiver on the Aggie football team, was found in Dallas at about 2:30 a.m. after disappearing Monday.

According to a Dallas police report, Johnson went to a friend's house on Forney Drive and tried to leave as police officers arrived.

Dallas police blacked-out portions of the report, but the document shows that Johnson was talking about his religious beliefs. Officers transported Johnson from the house, and there is an arrest number on the report.

Dallas police can make an arrest if they feel someone is a danger to himself or others.

The department is not commenting on the case.

A relative who answered Johnson's cellphone Thursday night said the family had no comment.

University officials traveled to Dallas on Wednesday to search for Johnson and found him with the help of the Dallas Police Department and the Texas Rangers.

Authorities have not released further details regarding where Johnson was before he was located.

"We are pleased and relieved to find T.J.," said Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin. "Our foremost concern is for the health and well-being of T.J. I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and efforts in locating him."

University police said Thursday that no further details would be released.

Johnson was reported missing Wednesday after he was last spotted leaving his College Station residence at approximately 5 p.m. Monday. He has family in the Dallas area, and it was believed he may have been in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Neighbors said they are glad he is OK but were frustrated by his disappearance and the fear it caused.

"It scared me to death. He's been a good kid," said neighbor Anthony Billard. "I was relieved. I was so glad that he was found, because so many things are happening now."

School officials have not said if Johnson is expected to play in A&M's game this Saturday against Sam Houston State. So far this season for the Aggies, Johnson has appeared in 10 games and has 30 catches for 399 yards with one touchdown.

NBC 5's Christina Miralla and Elvira Sakmari contributed to this report.

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