CAMH says latest patient to go missing checked himself in to the mental health facility

TORONTO – Police say a miscommunication between a Toronto mental health hospital and a transitional housing unit led to a patient being reported missing when he had in fact checked himself in to the health-care facility.

Toronto police initially said the man had disappeared from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health on Wednesday and was found on Thursday.

Police have since said their investigation determined the man had been staying at a transitional housing facility as a CAMH patient and was reported missing by the unit on Wednesday.

Sgt. Len Nicholson says the man had in fact checked himself in to CAMH but the hospital did not report his presence to the transitional housing unit.

He says staff at the housing unit thought the man was missing until police found him at the hospital.

WATCH: At least four patients have gone missing from CAMH in 1 month

2:31 At least four patients have gone missing from CAMH in 1 month

A CAMH spokesperson confirmed to Global News the man was an outpatient and was admitted to the hospital after an appointment.

“Because he is an outpatient they still have to come back to CAMH and check in. He came to CAMH for an appointment yesterday. After he came, he decided to check back in,” the spokesperson said. “When the place he was living reported him missing overnight they were not aware he had checked back into CAMH.”

The hospital recently announced an internal and external review of protocols around patient passes and privileges after acknowledging that the recent disappearances of detained patients had caused public concern.

READ MORE: CAMH announces external review after 2 patients found not criminally responsible go missing

Police are still looking for Anthony Murdock, 45, who left the facility while on a staff-escorted pass on hospital grounds Tuesday. Documents show Murdock has a long history of sexual offences against strangers and is considered a public risk.

Zhebin Cong, who was found not criminally responsible in the murder of his roommate in 2014, was also reported missing from CAMH and police said he left the country on July 3 and remains at large.

Ahmed Sualim, who was also found not criminally responsible for a string of armed robberies in 2012, was reported missing from CAMH late last month but found several hours later.

—With files from Jamie Mauracher