New Bandon RCMP: Missing 83-Year-Old Man Safely Found in Woods
Community Safety Alert – New Bandon, New Brunswick
An 83-year-old man reported missing from New Bandon, New Brunswick, has been found safe after an intensive ground and air search led by the RCMP. Police Dog Services located the man in a wooded area on the evening of April 16, 2026, a few hours after officers were first alerted.
The man, who lives with medical conditions that can cause confusion and disorientation, was last seen walking in a wooded area near powerlines in the New Bandon region. A concerned resident notified police, triggering a coordinated multi-agency search operation that ensured the man was located and returned home with only minor injuries.
Official RCMP Details
According to the official report from RCMP New Brunswick, the sequence of events unfolded as follows:
- On April 16, 2026, at approximately 3:45 p.m., members of the Doaktown RCMP detachment received a report that an 83-year-old man from New Bandon, N.B. was missing.
- The man was observed by a local resident walking in a wooded area near powerlines. The resident, recognizing the potential risk, contacted police.
- Officers from the Doaktown, Sunny Corner, and Blackville RCMP detachments responded to the area to begin searching.
- RCMP Police Dog Services, RCMP Air Services, and an RCMP Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (drone) pilot were deployed to support the search efforts.
- Shortly after 6:00 p.m. the same evening, Police Service Dog Klue and her handler, Sgt. Mike L’italien, located the man in a wooded area.
- The man was assessed on scene by Ambulance New Brunswick paramedics for minor injuries.
- After treatment, he was safely returned home.
The RCMP have formally acknowledged the assistance of multiple partner agencies, including:
- Department of Natural Resources
- Ambulance New Brunswick
- Justice and Public Safety
The image below, released with the official communication, shows Police Service Dog Klue and Sgt. Mike L’italien, who were directly involved in locating the missing man:
Police Service Dog Klue and Sgt. Mike L’italien, credited with locating the missing 83-year-old man in the New Bandon area.
CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective
From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident in New Brunswick underscores how quickly a vulnerable person can be placed at risk when they become disoriented in rural or wooded areas. Rapid reporting by a community member and a coordinated response by multiple RCMP detachments and support units were critical in ensuring a safe outcome. In other regions across Canada, similar search-and-rescue responses are reflected in our localized safety and crime data, such as the patterns tracked for communities like Dog Creek 46 in Manitoba crime and safety statistics. These data points help illustrate the importance of community vigilance, especially where there are large wooded areas, powerline corridors, or challenging terrain.
For families and caregivers of older adults or individuals who may become confused or wander, it is vital to have a clear safety plan: consider regularly checking in, sharing recent photos with trusted neighbours, and encouraging prompt calls to police if a vulnerable person is seen in an unusual location or appears disoriented. As part of our mission to build safer communities in New Brunswick and across Canada, CrimeCanada.ca encourages residents to report concerns early—timely information can drastically reduce risk and, as this case demonstrates, can mean the difference between danger and a safe return home.
Official Source & Community Safety
This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the new-brunswick community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.
Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.