DETROIT -- When an Amber Alert was issued after the May 31 disappearance of Detroit 13-year-old Deontae Mitchell, the absence of a mobile push notification raised questions with many in Michigan.

Last month a girl went missing and that mobile #AmberAlert hit my phone about 3 times. What happen this time? — •Elo 〽️ (@LowLevelTHUG) June 2, 2016

Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Sarah Krebs explained Friday that a license plate number connected to the disappearance of a child is needed in order for authorities to issue a Wireless Emergency Alert to cellphones.

"It's not a text message," Krebs said. "It's a notification sent through cellular companies, and they all have different technologies and capabilities. This is the only way to reach all the different cellular partners, and it does have its limitations.

"We can't push a photo of a child or workable link with more information as we are limited to a specific number of characters."

The sergeant said she understands the confusion, but that people need to understand in a police investigation, telling people to simply "look for a black Impala" could be counter-productive.

"I'm sure you can imagine the madness," she said. "We could get 1,000 calls about people spotting a black Impala."

Some get upset when a notification wakes them up in the middle of the night, Krebs said, and on the flip-side, others are outraged over the absence of a mobile notification in a case like the disappearance of Deontae Mitchell.

"Damned if you do, damned if you don't," she said.

Police never had a license plate number to share with the public on the black Chevrolet Impala used in Deontae's abduction.

The vehicle was eventually found, as was the primary suspect, Gregory Walker, arrested Thursday along with a female companion in Toledo, with help from tips received after surveillance footage of the abduction was released.

The teen was reported missing and an Amber Alert was issued Wednesday after the boy's cousin told police Deontae was kidnapped.

The cousin told police Deontae was abducted after picking up money he saw an intoxicated man drop while urinating near a liquor store.

Surveillance footage from the liquor store cameras showed an armed man forcing Deontae into a black car.

The boy's body was found Thursday morning in a small field near Harper Avenue and Baldwin Street on the city's east side.

A second suspect in the case, Ernest Coleman, 30, was arrested Thursday afternoon, and a third, Roy Portis, 51, surrendered to police Friday morning, police said.

Investigators have not elaborated on Portis and Coleman's suspected connection to the incident.

"The story of Deontae being senselessly killed over such a small amount of money is one that's going to stick with us for a long time, and I want Deontae's family to know that this whole city is grieving with them," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.