Broward deputies seek missing Lauderdale Lakes man with dementia

Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives are asking for help finding 84-year-old Jim Brown, a Lauderdale Lakes man who was last seen around 2:30 p.m. June 24 near the 3600 block of Northwest 37th Avenue. Family members told investigators Brown lives with dementia and other health problems, making the search especially urgent.

Brown is described as about 6 feet, 1 inch tall, about 200 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white and blue striped shirt, black shoes and a red hat. Deputies say he may be driving a brown 2017 Hyundai Sonata with Florida tag LMGD01, a detail that could help anyone spot him in traffic, a parking lot or near a business in Broward County.

The concern is heightened because people living with dementia can become confused about where they are and may not ask for help. The Alzheimer’s Association says wandering is common and notes that 6 in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once. In missing-person cases involving older adults, a brief window can determine whether someone is found quickly or becomes exposed to dehydration, traffic danger or medical complications.

Florida’s Silver Alert system is designed to help locate missing people suffering from an irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties. State guidance says local law enforcement must first activate a local or regional alert before a State Silver Alert can be issued.

Broward Sheriff’s Office routinely posts missing-person updates through its public website, and deputies have previously used those alerts in Lauderdale Lakes cases involving both children and older adults. Investigators are asking anyone who sees Brown or his vehicle to contact Broward Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Detective Leonard Charla or the agency’s non-emergency line immediately. Even a small tip, such as a sighting at a gas station or on a neighborhood street, could help narrow the search.