Missing Hagerstown man found

February 14, 2001

Missing Hagerstown man found

Searchers on Tuesday morning found an 81-year-old Hagerstown man who had been reported missing a day earlier.

"At first, we thought he was dead but when we roused him and warmed him up, he was alert," Hagerstown Police Chief Arthur Smith said shortly after the man was found in a wooded area adjacent to Brewer Avenue.

Just before 11 a.m., Community Rescue Service took the man to Washington County Hospital where he was treated for exposure and later released, hospital officials said.

The man had been the subject of a Potomac River search Monday nigh. Rescue workers in boats and a helicopter had checked the river in case he jumped off the U.S. 11 bridge at Williamsport, as first suspected.

"He was last seen at 9 a.m. Monday as he was walking near the Ridge Avenue underpass," said Lt. Gary Spielman. "We didn't get the call until 8 p.m."

The man didn't get far from his Ridge Avenue home. He was about 100 yards off the road in a wooded area.

"Sgt. Carval Wright first spotted him when he was up in the Maryland State Police helicopter," Smith said. "Then Detective Bill Rourke got to him on the ground."

Police said he had a minor injury to his hand and arm.

"He lives alone and he likes it that way," Smith said, noting that the man's daughter was the one who had called to report him missing.

Joining in the search Tuesday were Maryland State Police K-9 team and the city police cadet class.

- Marlo Barnhart

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