K-9 units search creek banks, waters for missing man
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Cadaver dogs are now being utilized in the third day of searching for a Washington C.H. man who disappeared into Rattlesnake Creek after jumping in at the East Monroe falls.
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward told The Highland County Press that search teams had combed the creek banks with dogs searching for Andrew Smith, 19.
"We started the search again at about 8 a.m. (Wednesday) morning," Ward said at approximately 2:30 p.m. "We completed bank searches, and just now got a boat into the water as far north as the falls. We're using cadaver dogs in shoreline checks, and a dog is being utilized in the boat over the area where he was last seen. We're just now getting the dog into the water."
Ward said the search crews have not found any sign of Smith since he disappeared around 7:30 p.m. Monday evening. According to witnesses, Ward said, Smith and five others were at the falls to swim. There allegedly was concern and discussion over the flow of the water, which was debris-filled due to recent heavy rains, Ward said. Smith eventually jumped feet-first into the water, according to witnesses. He surfaced twice, and witnesses indicate that he possibly was having trouble or was injured. Smith then disappeared into the water and has not been seen since.
Accessing the creek has proved difficult, with a severely sloping banks and heavily wooded areas lining the creek.
"To get the boat in, we were literally rappelling down the side of a rock face to get in the equipment we needed," Ward said.
The East Monroe United Methodist Church on Monroe Road is being used as a staging area for law enforcement and rescue crews, and the church has opened its doors to crews, volunteers, and family members.
"Nothing has surfaced," Ward said. "We have about 20-25 people searching. We've done the banks on both sides, and we wanted to double-check down to the beaver dam area, but we're satisfied we've covered all of the bank area."
On Tuesday, aerial searches with a helicopter showed an area that appeared to be a beaver dam in the creek was catching a lot of debris, and Ward said the area was thoroughly searched.
"We've checked the debris fields, the islands in the middle of the creek, and now we're back up to where he was last seen," Ward said. "I think that is where we will ultimately find him. The water is about 30 feet deep, and we're getting the boat over top of that."
Ward said that "anything is possible," in that Smith may have become trapped in debris under the water.
On Tuesday, the search and rescue efforts were changed to search and recovery.
"We've kind of went into a recovery mode versus a rescue mode," Ward said on Tuesday. "We believe if he was along the banks waiting for help, we would have found him already."
Throughout the search, rescue crews have had to battle harsh weather conditions, from rain and thunderstorms Monday night, to heat and humidity on Tuesday.
"(Wednesday) it has not been quite as hot, but the heat is still a factor," Ward said. "There is a lot of fatigue, and we've been trying to keep everyone hydrated, rotating people in and out."
Cadaver dogs are now being utilized in the third day of searching for a Washington C.H. man who disappeared into Rattlesnake Creek after jumping in at the East Monroe falls.
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward told The Highland County Press that search teams had combed the creek banks with dogs searching for Andrew Smith, 19.
"We started the search again at about 8 a.m. (Wednesday) morning," Ward said at approximately 2:30 p.m. "We completed bank searches, and just now got a boat into the water as far north as the falls. We're using cadaver dogs in shoreline checks, and a dog is being utilized in the boat over the area where he was last seen. We're just now getting the dog into the water."
Ward said the search crews have not found any sign of Smith since he disappeared around 7:30 p.m. Monday evening. According to witnesses, Ward said, Smith and five others were at the falls to swim. There allegedly was concern and discussion over the flow of the water, which was debris-filled due to recent heavy rains, Ward said. Smith eventually jumped feet-first into the water, according to witnesses. He surfaced twice, and witnesses indicate that he possibly was having trouble or was injured. Smith then disappeared into the water and has not been seen since.
Accessing the creek has proved difficult, with a severely sloping banks and heavily wooded areas lining the creek.
"To get the boat in, we were literally rappelling down the side of a rock face to get in the equipment we needed," Ward said.
The East Monroe United Methodist Church on Monroe Road is being used as a staging area for law enforcement and rescue crews, and the church has opened its doors to crews, volunteers, and family members.
"Nothing has surfaced," Ward said. "We have about 20-25 people searching. We've done the banks on both sides, and we wanted to double-check down to the beaver dam area, but we're satisfied we've covered all of the bank area."
On Tuesday, aerial searches with a helicopter showed an area that appeared to be a beaver dam in the creek was catching a lot of debris, and Ward said the area was thoroughly searched.
"We've checked the debris fields, the islands in the middle of the creek, and now we're back up to where he was last seen," Ward said. "I think that is where we will ultimately find him. The water is about 30 feet deep, and we're getting the boat over top of that."
Ward said that "anything is possible," in that Smith may have become trapped in debris under the water.
On Tuesday, the search and rescue efforts were changed to search and recovery.
"We've kind of went into a recovery mode versus a rescue mode," Ward said on Tuesday. "We believe if he was along the banks waiting for help, we would have found him already."
Throughout the search, rescue crews have had to battle harsh weather conditions, from rain and thunderstorms Monday night, to heat and humidity on Tuesday.
"(Wednesday) it has not been quite as hot, but the heat is still a factor," Ward said. "There is a lot of fatigue, and we've been trying to keep everyone hydrated, rotating people in and out."
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