Toronto police are asking for the public’s help to find a missing man who was last seen near the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, saying officers are “concerned for the safety of the public.”
In a statement released Tuesday evening, police said 45-year-old Anthony Murdock was last seen at around 2:20 p.m. in the Ossington Avenue and Queen Street West area — the main intersection just located at the entrance to the CAMH grounds.
Toronto police told Global News on Wednesday morning that Murdock, who went missing from the same area in 2017, is a patient at CAMH.
Police confirmed he “was in the charge of CAMH” and was out on an accompanied pass when he walked away from the facility and did not return.
“He was found not criminally responsible for an indecent act in 1998. When our officers received the notification that he had walked away, they assessed him as a potential risk and we issued his photo along with the notice re-risk,“ police said.
It is the fourth patient at CAMH, who was found not criminally responsible for a charge, to go missing in July, including one who managed to leave the country.
Criminal defence lawyer Robert Karrass said the responsibility for these men falls squarely on CAMH since they assess the risk for a day-pass.
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“The director of CAMH and CAMH staff determines if the person is a safety risk on that day. If they don’t believe a pass will be executed safely they shouldn’t be given one,” he said.
He is described as being six feet one inch tall, weighing approximately 200 pounds and having a shaved head. He was last seen wearing a burgundy cotton shirt and blue jeans.
“If located, do not approach — immediately contact police. Call 911 to report if seen,” police said.
Police said he was last seen on security camera video in the King Street West and Strachan Avenue around the time he went missing.
Anyone with information was also asked to call police at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
— With files from Gabby Rodrigues.
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