Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Authorities are searching for a 78-year-old man oregon The man who left his family’s house and then called Police To indicate that he has fallen into a pit.
Thomas Weightman was informed missing On Tuesday at around 5:30 pm local time. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, his family told Forest Grove police that he left his home on foot around 10 a.m. that day and did not return.
Police say that during a brief phone call, Weightman said he had fallen into a ditch and was not sure where he was. Authorities tried to find Weightman using cell phone triangulation, but were unsuccessful in the remote area.
Sheriff’s Office Detective Shannon Wild said finding Weightman has been difficult given the off-the-grid rugged terrain.
“Sure, we used cell phone records…but because it’s a rural area and there are fewer cell towers, that information didn’t really help us narrow down the search area,” Wild explained. fox 12 oregon,
Wild described the search area as “very deep terrain with ravines and trees. Obviously, we have some open fields because there is farming property here. It’s a really challenging geographical area.”
There are also concerns about nighttime temperatures at this time of year, as Weightman was wearing only a flannel when he went missing. The low on Friday night in Forest Grove will be around 39 degrees.
Search teams have asked locals to check their properties for the elderly man.
Weightman is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He has brown hair, a white beard and glasses. The missing man was last seen wearing a red flannel button-up shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and a dark-colored baseball cap.
“A lot of neighbors are out,” Mark Soler, who lives in the search area, told Fox 12. “I’m sure they keep their eyes open when they’re out there, whether it’s a little farm work they’re doing or something else, I’m sure they keep their eyes open.”
Forest Grove police urged community members to avoid searching for Weightman on others’ properties.
The police department said, “We know the community is willing to help with the search on foot. Right now, search and rescue is asking property owners to search their properties, but is asking community members to avoid the area where they are working.”
The department also announced that drone teams had been searching for the man for several days. Fox 12 reported that more than 10 agencies are working on the case using drones, dogs and foot patrols.
Wild called the search effort “pretty tremendous”.
“I think anytime someone goes missing and we’re doing such a huge search effort, it’s just tremendous,” Wilde said. “Generally, the family is very grateful for the efforts made, but obviously, the longer this goes on, the more worrying it becomes for the family and for us about what kind of situation he might be in.”
Authorities are asking anyone who sees Weightman after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to call its non-emergency number at 503-629-0111, and if they find him, they are advised to call 911.