Ottawa police are searching for Alan Rayburn, 81, who left for a walk Friday afternoon from his home, near Solva Drive, in the city’s west end and hasn’t been seen since.
Rayburn was last seen wearing khaki pants, and possibly a red button shirt and a hat. He is described as five feet seven inches tall, 165-175 pounds with a medium build, and thinning white hair. He wears glasses.
Ottawa Police Duty Insp. Michel Marin said Rayburn is in good shape physically, “but as time goes on that concerns us tremendously.” He fears that the 81-year-old man may have wandered off a path or gotten injured.
Marin said a ground search, consisting of two groups of up to 20 officers, is underway to locate Rayburn, but the heavily wooded areas nearby are posing some challenges for police. He added that it’s not unusual to have this many officers searching for one person.
Since the area is well trafficked, Marin said there should be a lot of potential witnesses, but few have called in with clues to his whereabouts. He said there are no indications of foul play at the moment.
“It’s more we’re concerned for his safety, people don’t just simply walk out and not come home,” he said. Anyone with information on the man is asked to phone Ottawa police west division staff sergeant desk at 613-236-1222, ext. 2912.
Police set up a mobile command centre in Andrew Haydon park Saturday as part of the search for Alan Rayburn, 81.
