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Search scaled back for missing man

William Pope went missing Thursday and hasn't been seen since
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William Andrew Pope went missing from his home in Qualicum Beach Thursday morning and hasn't been seen since.

Police are scaling back their search for a missing Qualicum Beach man who walked away from his home Thursday and hasn’t been seen since.

Missing is Qualicum Beach resident William Andrew Pope, 69, who was last seen by his wife shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday, April 14. Searchers believe he walked away from the family home, located in the 400 block of Macquinna Place.

Pope is described as being six feet tall, 180 pounds with grey hair. He was wearing eyeglasses at the time of his disappearance.

Oceanside RCMP reported that evidence indicates Pope may be experiencing some form of mental distress. 

Foul play is not suspected in the disappearance.

On Thursday, volunteers with Arrowsmith Search and Rescue, along with the Coast Guard, a RCMP West Coast Marine Services vessel and a private plane fanned out to search for the missing man in any of the possible areas he may have walked.

On Monday, Arrowsmith Search and Rescue search manager Ken Neden said ASAR volunteers have turned the matter over to the RCMP.

“It’s a police matter now,” he said. “We ended the search without finding the fellow and it doesn’t look good.”

RCMP Corporal Richard van de Pol wouldn’t comment on reports that the man’s jacket was found washed up on an area beach.

“We are concerned about his wellbeing,” van de Pol said. 

“To this point, he hasn’t shown up. The search has been scaled back and we are asking the public to be vigilant and keep an eye open for him. We hope to locate him safely.”

Anyone with information about Pope’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111.

 news@pqbnews.com