The Mesa Police Department has activated a Silver Alert for Gregory Tanchuk, a 77-year-old Mesa resident who has been reported missing since Sunday afternoon. According to a statement released by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Tanchuk was last seen at 4:30 p.m. at a care facility located at 200 West Brown Street in Mesa. He suffers from a medical condition that may leave him appearing confused.
Described as a white male standing 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 100 pounds, Tanchuk has grey hair and blue eyes. When last seen, he was wearing a yellow t-shirt, black jacket, blue pants, with white tennis shoes. Having a scruffy beard and mustache, Tanchuk is believed to have left the facility on foot. Authorities urge the public to be on the lookout for a man matching this description.
Anyone who has information on Gregory's whereabouts or who might have seen someone fitting his description since his disappearance is encouraged to contact the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 or call 9 1 1 immediately. Detective Encinas has been assigned as the point of contact for this case and can also be reached directly at 480-369-3281. The Silver Alert remains active, as family members and authorities continue their search for Tanchuk.
For those unfamiliar, Silver Alerts are issued by law enforcement agencies to assist in locating missing elderly individuals, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other mental disabilities. Residents in and around Maricopa County are asked for heightened awareness, since a man like Tanchuk could be very vulnerable if alone. For additional information on the protocols and purpose of Silver Alerts, the public can visit the Arizona Silver Alert information page.
