‘Just trying to help:’ Missing man with disability sought by family, police

Seen in a previous photo with date and location unspecified, Grant Isamu Okazaki was last seen in Las Vegas on Sept. 9,  2022 | Photo courtesy of Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Police are searching for a missing man who is believed to have traveled to Nevada after being released from a local care facility.

Grant Isamu Okazaki was last seen on Sept. 9. He reportedly boarded a St. George Shuttle and arrived in Las Vegas at approximately 3 p.m. PDT, Santa Clara-Ivins Police Sgt. Reed Briggs said. He was dropped off at Harry Reid International Airport.

The 37-year-old was recently released from a care facility and requested transportation resources, Briggs said. He was given a ticket to Nevada, where he obtained a list of six additional resources, the details of which were not specified.

Okazaki was listed as a missing person on the National Crime Information Center as his family and police are concerned for his safety due to an unspecified mental illness, Briggs said. The details of his diagnosis were not shared by law enforcement.

Seen in a previous photo with date and location unspecified, Grant Isamu Okazaki was last seen in Las Vegas on Sept. 9,  2022 | Photo courtesy of Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety, St. George News

When a criminal justice agency enters records into the information center, they become available nationwide to other law enforcement agencies and can be searched during other interactions like routine traffic stops. If the person is listed, the system “responds instantly” with their information, according to the FBI’s website.

Because of this, any officer that checks Okazaki’s information will know how to reach his family, Briggs said.

“His family is just trying to help him, but they don’t have a way to contact him,” he said.

Police are following through with the organizations Okazaki was referred to for resources in Nevada and will inform them that the man’s family is attempting to locate him, Briggs said.

What Okazaki was wearing is unknown. He has black hair and brown eyes. He is 5-foot-10 and weighs approximately 200 pounds, Santa Clara-Ivins Police Public Safety stated in a Facebook post.

Those who have information concerning Okazaki’s whereabouts should contact the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department at 435-652-1122 or dispatch at 435-634-5730.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!