Gwinnett County officers rescue missing man from creek near Buford
J. Cleland, Andrew Palmer, Brett Shirley
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County police officers are being hailed as heroes after they successfully rescued a missing elderly man who was found submerged in a creek near Interstate 85 in Buford, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department.
The incident began on Aug. 20 when officers responded to a call regarding a missing 77-year-old man from Snellville.
Concerned family members reported that the man, who was possibly suffering from a mental health issue, was missing along with his car. Utilizing traffic cameras, officers located the man’s Chrysler Pacifica parked on the side of I-85 Northbound near Buford. Despite an initial search of the area, the man was not found, prompting officers to list him as a missing person under a Mattie’s Call, an emergency alert for missing disabled or elderly individuals.
The following morning, officers from the Gwinnett County Police Department’s North Precinct returned to the area for a more extensive search. While combing the wood line along the interstate, Sgt. Brett Shirley called out for the missing man and received a response. Sgt. Shirley, along with Lt. John Cleland and Cpl. Andrew Palmer, descended into the area where the voice was heard and discovered the man lying in a creek, having fallen and been submerged in the water for several hours.
RAW: Man rescued from creek in Gwinnett County
Gwinnett County police officers are being recognized for rescuing a man from a creek.
The officers quickly pulled the man from the water and secured medical assistance from the Gwinnett County Fire Department. The man was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.