Missing Retsil resident home safe
August 20, 2008 · Updated 10:21 AM
A 69-year-old, wheelchair-bound resident of the Retsil Veteran's home reported missing Tuesday has returned to the facility, according to Heidi Audette, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.
Richard A. Ireland, who is completely paralyzed on his right side, left the veterans' home around 11 a.m. Aug. 19 when he boarded a Kitsap Transit bus after telling facility staff that he was going to the Fred Meyer and Wal-Mart stores in South Kitsap.
However, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Deputy Scott Wilson said that Ireland was seen disembarking the bus at the Port Orchard foot ferry terminal, then boarding a foot ferry to Bremerton.
Wilson said Ireland was believed to be in Seattle, as he was seen boarding the 3 p.m. sailing from Bremerton to Seattle by Washington State Ferries employees. Wilson said this was confirmed by security camera footage.
Wilson is described as 5-8, 165-pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. He has U.S. Navy tattoos on both arms and uses a black wheelchair.
Wilson said Ireland also has limited speech capacity, and uses one-word responses.
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