The Port Alberni RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a local man, Desmond Shipman, who has been missing since late January in Port Alberni, British Columbia. Shipman, who is also known as “Dez Lasas,” was officially reported missing on Jan. 30, 2026.
Police say his disappearance is out of character and that they are concerned for his well-being. Officers investigated for several days without locating him and issued a public appeal on Feb. 4, 2026.
Constable Beth O’Connor, Media Relations Officer for the Port Alberni RCMP, said the public can help establish a timeline and that even small details or brief sightings could be important. Police say the search covers the city’s neighbourhoods and surrounding rural corridors.
The search comes at a sensitive time for the Alberni Valley, which has seen several high‑profile missing‑person cases in recent years; local outlets including the Alberni Valley News have previously reported on that context. Residents are being asked to check dashcam and backyard camera footage for any sightings of Shipman from Jan. 30 onward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP detachment at 250‑723‑2424. Tips can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
