Mystery man seeks answers

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Who am I?

An unusual question to find an answer to in a doctor’s office, one

might think.

But a man in gray jogging pants and sneakers who walked into Hoag

Hospital at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday was not seeking an answer to a

rhetorical, philosophical question.

Instead, he told hospital staff he did not know who he was, what city

he was in or where he lived, said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve

Shulman.

“He had no apparent injury or bump on the head,” Shulman said. “He did

not appear to be a transient. No alcohol in his breath. It is unusual.”

Officers ran his fingerprints through the system but found he had no

criminal record, Shulman said. He said the man, when he walked into Hoag,

was dressed like a jogger in gray pants, tan shirt and running shoes but

was not sweating or panting. He did not have any visible scars or tattoos

either.

He appeared to have a one- or two-day beard growth, but it was trimmed

around the sides, indicating he had shaved in the last day, Shulman said.

“He was very articulate, soft-spoken and he seemed to speak

coherently,” he said. “But the only thing he recalls is running to a

hospital. Nothing more.”

Hospital officials said he was to undergo several tests Wednesday to

determine his medical condition and what caused the amnesia. Then, he

would be kept in the hospital overnight for observation, hospital

spokeswoman Karen Lindsay said.

“After that, we would have to release him to county officials,” she

said. “We don’t know what will happen after that.”

Lindsay said the hospital treats similar individuals in its emergency

care unit regardless of whether they have money or insurance.

Shulman said the Police Department sees at least one case of amnesia a

year but that most of them are not legitimate.

“In many cases, they’re just trying to get free treatment,” he said.

“But this case does seem legitimate, and we want to find this man’s

family so he can get the medical treatment he needs.”

The man is described as white, in his mid-20s with short brown hair

and blue eyes. He is 5-foot-9 and weighs about 170 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Newport Beach Police Sgt. Tom

Gazsi at (949) 644-3785 or the watch commander after 4 p.m. at (949)

644-3730.

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .