Search ends for missing man who walked away from hospital in Columbia, police say
The search for a missing man called a “vulnerable adult” by the Columbia Police Department ended Wednesday morning.
Lonnie Cheeks Sr., 79, was found and is safe, according to police.
Cheeks was publicly reported missing by police earlier in the day.
Cheeks had not been seen since 5 p.m. Tuesday when he walked away from a hospital in the Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge complex at 400 Palmetto Health Parkway, police said. That’s in Richland County, near Exit 102 on Interstate 26, which is the junction with Lake Murray Boulevard.
Information why Cheeks was at the hospital was not available.
Cheeks was taken back to the hospital to receive medical treatment, according to police.
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This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 9:41 AM.
