An East York neighbourhood reacted with fear and dismay after police issued a warning Wednesday about a man considered dangerous who was missing from a psychiatric ward at Toronto East General Hospital for more than 24 hours.

The man was located at about 8:40 p.m. in the city’s west end, police said.

Residents said earlier Wednesday they’re frustrated with the hospital’s security after numerous incidents involving psychiatric patients.

“It’s a huge concern if this is what’s happening,” said resident Drew Dixon. “There are kids all over the place. I can’t believe this.”

The 30-year-old psychiatric patient was last seen just before 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Coxwell and Mortimer Aves. area, when he was granted a short-term pass to leave the hospital.

Police were notified when he hadn’t returned by 2:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, police released a photo and description of the man, saying he was considered a danger to himself and others.

In February, a psychiatric patient was shot dead by a police officer after he left the same hospital, which is in a residential neighbourhood across the street from an elementary school and East York Civic Centre.

Michael Eligon, 29, was found roaming the streets dressed only in a hospital gown and socks, and carrying scissors.

“Now there’s another case of this. This is really scary now,” said Dixon, adding that patients should be kept safe to prevent harm to others and to themselves.

One woman, who wanted her name withheld because of her job, said shortly before Eligon was killed, a patient tried to break into her home at 2:30 a.m.

She said she called hospital security, which came and got the patient, but there was no apology or followup.

“I’m wondering at what point the hospital is going to be held to account . . . there should be something in place to prevent this from happening,” she said. “I don’t think it’s acceptable.”

A hospital spokesperson said the man came to the hospital voluntarily, but would not say when he arrived. After an initial assessment, he was held under the Mental Health Act for treatment.

“The patient was not in the custody of Toronto Police Services before or during hospitalization,” the hospital said in a statement.

Police said they searched for the man under a mental health warrant.

Such a warrant allows police to take a detainee to a secure part of the hospital, where a doctor tries to determine their mental state.

Meanwhile, East General Hospital has just received an external review on the Eligon case, said spokeswoman Angela Pappaianni.

“We’re waiting to discuss that internally,” she said. “Once that’s complete, then we will be transparent and make it public.”

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Eligon’s death prompted more than a dozen concerned citizens and activists to make recommendations to the Toronto Police Services Board on how to prevent police shootings of the mentally ill.

No date has been set for the coroner’s inquest into Eligon’s death.

The province’s Special Investigations Unit later ruled there were no grounds to charge the officer who shot Eligon.