Mesa Police Need Help Finding Missing Mentally Ill Man

Mesa PD

Carlos Polanco

​The Mesa Police Department needs the public's help in tracking down a missing man with mental-health problems.

Mesa Police Detective Steve Berry tells New Times that 42-year-old Carlos Polanco was dropped off by his sister at his doctor's office on Monday morning. When the sister returned to pick him up, he wasn't there.

Polanco is schizophrenic, with the mental capacity of a 10-year-old. It's unclear to officers why he would leave the doctor's office before his sister came to pick him up.


According to police, Polanco is not know to be violent but often hears voices and becomes agitated and fearful when he's not taking his medication -- which he hasn't been doing since at least Monday.

Polanco has money with him but no wallet or identification.

He was last seen wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, and wearing sunglasses on his head. He's apparently much thinner than the above photo would indicate.

He is about 5-foot-8 and 135 pounds.

If you've seen Polanco, or know where he might be, call the Mesa Police Department's missing persons unit at 480-644-2211.