Brainerd police are still searching for a 79-year-old Sebeka man, who went missing around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, after leaving Essentia Health-St Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd.

Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston said a family member went to pick up Richard Ernest Paquin after he was done at the hospital, but he was nowhere to be found. McQuiston said the relative and Paquin had a telephone conversation earlier Wednesday that he would be picked up from the hospital.

Miranda Anderson, marketing director of Essentia Health, said Paquin was discharged from the hospital.

Brainerd police conducted a search Wednesday in the area from behind the hospital to the Mississippi River and found nothing. On Thursday, police and about a dozen Brainerd volunteer firefighters searched the area a second time.

“We found nothing,” said McQuiston. “We’re baffled at this point. Usually we’ll get some calls of someone seeing someone who they believe is the missing person, but we’re not getting anything.”

McQuiston said Paquin suffers from a medical condition that requires medication and family members and authorities are concerned as Paquin becomes easily confused and disoriented.

Brainerd police is asking for the public’s help in finding the man. Authorities describe Paquin as a white male, who is 5 feet 11 inches tall, 210 pounds and has short silver/gray colored hair. Paquin was last seen wearing a dark colored “Wrangler” cargo style pants, brown boots, gray stocking cap and a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Paquin are asked to call the Brainerd Police Department at 829-2805.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl