THUNDER BAY — City police are renewing their calls for public assistance to help find a 65-year-old who has been missing since November.
Thunder Bay police on Friday issued the appeal as search efforts continue to find Joseph Alexander Lawson — commonly referred to as Alex or AJ — whose last confirmed sighting was on Nov. 27, 2022 in the 200s block of Madeline Street.
With the change in weather, police launched a ground search Friday in various parts of the Grandview neighbourhood using K-9 units from both the Thunder Bay Police Service and OPP.
“We’re using this as a starting point, searching the pathways” and surrounding areas less traveled by pedestrians, said Det.-Sgt. Robert Gombola of the TBPS.
“We’re asking any resident who lives in the area of the Grandview Mall to search their backyards, outbuildings that they may not have been in over the last few winter months.”
With snow melting, he encourages residents to contact police if they find pieces of clothing or anything that seems unusual in their yards
Gombola said the search area could expand going forward.
“If we do receive information, we will search elsewhere. It is an ongoing investigation and we’re not limiting any of our resources.”
Lawson was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, a light-coloured North Face puffer jacket with a dark upper area, blue jeans and black shoes.
“It’s obviously traumatic for the family, and it would be nice to put closure to this, regardless of the outcome,” said Gombola. “We are still hopeful we’ll find Mr. Lawson.”
