Gwinnett Police officers rescued a missing elderly man who was submerged in a creek off I-85 in Buford.
Officers responded on Tuesday to a missing person call for the 77 year old Snellville man who was believed to be suffering from a mental health issue at the time of his disappearance. The man’s family members told authorities the man’s car was also missing.
Officers were able to search traffic cameras in the area and discovered the man’s Chryseler Pacifica was parked on the side of the interstate Northbound near Buford. Officers were unable to locate the man after an initial search on Aug. 20, but returned to the scene the next day for further investigation.
As they searched the area, Sgt. Brett Shirley with GCPD’s North Precinct reportedly called out for the man and heard a response.
Sgt. Shirley, Lt. John Cleland, and Cpl. Andrew Palmer then climbed down to the area where they heard the response and found the man lying in a creek. He had fallen and been submerged in the water for several hours before officers found him, according to a release from the department.
Officers were able to pull the male from the water and he was sent to a local hospital.
