VBPD Locates Missing Elderly Man with Dementia

​VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – On Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at 8:47 P.M., Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) was dispatched to the call of a missing person on the 2800 block of Charlemagne Drive. The subject was an 84-year-old man with dementia.

The combination of the late hour, low visibility, and location, so close to the bay, was concerning. VBPD enlisted every available resource to locate the subject. Uniformed officers responded immediately and started searching the area, including beach, bike paths, and neighborhood. The Detective Bureau also responded and began the process of requesting the issuance of a Silver Alert through the Virginia State Police (VSP).

Working with Park Rangers, VBPD gained access to First Landing State Park and began searching on an ATV. Approximately one mile into the park, the subject was located on a trail. He was assisted out of the park and returned safely home to his wife. VBPD is working with the family to enroll the subject in the Project Lifesaver program.

Project Lifesaver is a national electronic tracking program used to locate individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to wandering. While we cannot predict when a person will become lost, we can prepare. Visit https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/police/opsdiv/Pages/proj-lifesaver.aspx to learn more about project lifesaver.

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