A 72-year-old Cleveland man with dementia has been missing since Sunday morning, prompting an Endangered Missing Adult Alert from state authorities. Andrew Brown walked away from his residence on East 101st Street at 8:45 a.m. and had not returned as of the alert, according to officials.
The Ohio Attorney Missing Persons Unit reported that Brown left his home and has not come back, according to Cleveland 19 News. Brown has dementia and takes medication to manage the condition, the station reports, raising concern among authorities about his welfare while he remains unaccounted for.
Brown is described as a Black male standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 194 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black hat, a blue hoodie, blue sweatpants, a green striped shirt and gray shoes, per the same account. The Cleveland Division of Police provided the image used in the alert.
What Triggers This Kind of Alert in Ohio
Ohio’s Endangered Missing Adult Alert framework is reserved for cases where law enforcement confirms a person is missing and either 65 or older or an adult with a mental impairment, according to ohioamberplan.org. Authorities must also believe the disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death before issuing the alert, the site notes.
The state guidance adds that this designation is most commonly used for missing people 65 or older who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or a related illness, stating, “This alert is most commonly issued for a missing elderly person (65 year old or older) who suffers from Alzheimer’s or other related illness.” The alert must be requested by a law enforcement agency and formally activated through the Ohio Attorney General’s office, according to the Ohio Association of Broadcasters.
How the Alerts Reach the Public
Unlike some emergency notifications, these alerts are distributed through social media, email, text or fax rather than through the Emergency Alert System or Wireless Emergency Alerts, according to the Ohio Association of Broadcasters.
Anyone with information about Brown’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Cleveland Division of Police at 216-623-5262. Details about whether Brown has been located have not been made available.
