PORT TOWNSEND — Police have located an 86-year-old Port Townsend man with Alzheimer’s disease in Shelton after family members reported him missing Friday.
Joe H. Shimojima was found alive and well by Shelton police in the parking lot of a bank where he was having difficulty backing out, said Port Townsend Police Sgt. Joe Kaare.
Shimojima was in good physical condition when he was located, Kaare said.
“I believe they recovered him the same day,” Kaare said.
Kaare said he was uncertain because he had not been on duty and did not have the report available Sunday afternoon.
The Port Townsend Police Department was notified by family members that Shimojima was missing from his home at about 1:30 p.m. Friday, and East Jefferson Fire Rescue issued a press release asking people to watch for the missing man.
Shimojima was able to get keys to a 2006 Buick Rendezvous with about half a tank of fuel and took the vehicle.
Initially, family members believed that he might have been headed toward Winlock, south of Tacoma, but told police they were uncertain of what route he may try to take because his Alzheimer’s disease has left him without the ability to know where he is.
