Missing Men Found Safe on Conecuh River
The Escambia County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Santa Rosa County, Florida Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, September 24, 2016, about 9:45 P.M. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was receiving 911 calls that were dropping, leading them to believe that someone was lost on the Conecuh River.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office began pinging the phone in an attempt to locate the person placing the 911 calls. The calls appeared to originate between the Riverview Landing and the Pollard Landing on the Conecuh River.
ECSO deputies were dispatched to the Pollard Landing, and they began traveling up the river. Also, Georgia Pacific officials were asked to allow ECSO deputies access to their closed location on the Conecuh River.
While the search was beginning, family members were contacted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office from information retrieved from the caller’s cell phone. The 911 callers were identified as two males aged 17 and 22 who had been dropped off at the Riverview Landing on Friday. They planned to float down the Conecuh River on two boats until they reached the Terrell Landing behind the Quantum Refinery in Jay, Florida. The two men had arranged for family members to pick them up at 12 noon Sunday at the Terrell Landing in Jay.
The ECSO deputies traveling up the Conecuh River located two boats on a sandbar near the Georgia Pacific property. Deputies went onto the sandbar and made contact with the two missing men. The men had equipment issues with their boats and were not able to continue down the river.
The two men were taken in ECSO boats to the Pollard Landing. They were then driven to Pollard City Hall where their family was waiting.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office encourages people to be prepared when planning outings. Be sure to take cell phones with you, and let someone know of your plans before you leave. Brainstorm possible situations that could occur during your outing so that you can be prepared to face the unexpected.