ACTIVE SEARCH Canada- Desmond, 73, dementia, barefoot, last seen on camera, Toronto (Scarborough) 6 October 2023

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CityNews

toronto.citynews.ca

''Oct 9, 2023, 5:32PM EDT.
Toronto police have issued a level three search for a missing 73-year-old man living with Parkinson’s disease and dementia who has not been seen since late last week.
Desmond is described as five-foot-eleven and 200 pounds with curly gray hair and a grey beard.
In an update from officers, police said the last sighting of Desmond was Friday, October 6, in the Brimley Road and Danforth Road area.''
''Police clarified that his family reported a sighting of Desmond on camera on Oct. 6 despite an initial news release stating he had been missing since Sunday, Oct. 1, at a different location in Scarborough.

Desmond was last seen wearing a short-sleeved black button-up shirt, dark cargo shorts and a light-coloured baseball cap. He was barefoot.

A Toronto police spokesperson said due to his mental state, Desmond is not believed to seek out assistance.

Authorities are concerned that the 73-year-old man was inadequately dressed for the weather and are asking the public to check cameras, surrounding properties, sheds and other places where he may seek shelter.''

 

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Missing Person, Lawrence Avenue East and McCowan Road area, Desmond, 73

www.tps.ca

Unit:

43 Division
Case #: 2023-2335423

Published: Saturday, October 7, 2023, 12:27 PM

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''The Toronto Police Service is requesting the public's assistance locating a missing person.
Desmond, 73, was last seen on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 1:11 p.m., in the Lawrence Avenue East and McCowan Road area.
Desmond is described as 5'11", 200 lbs., with curly gray hair and a gray beard. Desmond lives with Dementia and Parkinsons's Disease.
Police are concerned for their safety.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
A person can be reported missing at any time - there is no 24 hour waiting period. If you are concerned for someone’s immediate safety, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, you can report a person as missing to the Toronto Police Service by calling the non-emergency number 416-808-2222.''

 

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By Faiza Amin and Meredith Bond
Posted Oct 10, 2023

CityNews

toronto.citynews.ca

''After the disappearance of three seniors in the last two weeks, including one with a tragic conclusion, calls for a “silver alert” to be implemented across the province have been renewed.

A search is currently ongoing for a missing 73-year-old, Desmond who was last seen October 6 near his home. Desmond lives with dementia and Parkinson’s disease and police have described the search as “urgent.”

Earlier this week, 68-year-old Norman, who has dementia. was found alive after going missing for three days and sadly, 76-year-old Tulip was found dead in a wooded area of Midtown following a week-long search.

NDP MPP Monique Taylor said these recent disappearances have made the bill she introduced earlier this year all the more important. Bill 74 would address what she calls a gap in our current emergency alert system called the Vulnerable Persons Alert. A petition on her website currently has over 2,100 signatures.

“These [vulnerable people] have dementia, they have Alzheimer’s, they have autism, they have Down Syndrome, they’re vulnerable to the elements, they’re vulnerable to being out without supervision,” explained Taylor on who might be covered in this alert.

She added this alert would be geo-targeted to a local area.

“We know that when someone goes missing on, say, an Amber Alert, we’ve heard frustration. [If] it’s somebody way up in the North and we’re down in Southern Ontario … Well, the alert that I’m calling for would be geographic,” said Taylor. “So if it’s in my neighbourhood, in my community, and it makes sense for people in … the area to know that a senior or someone has gone missing, that would alert their phones.”