An 84-year-old dementia patient found on a Santa Ana street early Tuesday by firefighters was taken to a hospital, where he was eventually confirmed to be a man reported missing by his caregiver.
Police had issued a public call for help tracking down Tai Tu, who lives alone, after his caretaker arrived Tuesday morning and found him gone about 8:50 a.m., according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Tu, who suffers from “severe dementia” and was in need of medication ,was considered a “critical missing” case, according to Bertagna, who said surveillance video showed him leaving his residence about 12:30 a.m.
Orange County firefighters found Tu in the street about 2:30 a.m. after he fell and took him to an area hospital, where he was admitted as a John Doe, Bertagna said.
When firefighters saw the police department’s bulletin, they realized the John Doe they took to the hospital was likely Tu, which was confirmed this afternoon, Bertagna said.