Somerset Police Department heroically rescues missing man

A local police department recently made a heroic rescue of a missing person.

According to police, on Sunday, Somerset Police officers responded to a call for help at a residence in the area of Lees River Avenue. The reporting party stated an adult family member went for a walk hours earlier and had not returned. They were concerned because he did not normally go out for such a long period of time, and he had left his cell phone behind.

Shift Commander Adam DaRosa and Sergeant Matthew Lima initiated a search operation of the home and surrounding area in an attempt to locate the missing male. Officer Christopher Phenix stayed with the family while Detective James Cardella and Officer Brenan Cardoza began searching a thickly wooded and swampy area located east of the residence. Officer Paul Trenholme responded and used the SPD drone to assist the officers on foot, searching multiple areas from the air which allowed officers on foot to concentrate their efforts in other specific locations.

Approximately one hour after the initial search began, residents in one area contacted the police stating they could hear someone calling out from a swampy area. The drone was moved to the area and broadcast instructions to the missing personvia a speaker module telling him to continue yelling out so officers could locate him. Detective Cardella and Officer Cardoza could then hear the male calling for help and located him soon after. The male was found stuck in a swampy area and could not make his way out. The officers entered the wetlands, sinking in water that was almost up to their waists, and assisted the male out of the swamp and back towards his home utilizing our drone’s infrared capabilities to navigate a safe path out of the woods.

Lt. DaRosa commended all of the personnel who responded and assisted with the search and rescue of the missing male. He also wanted to recognize Dispatcher Brandon Halbardier who, while working alone in dispatch, handled all of the calls and radio traffic while also contacting various department personnel and other agencies who were responding to assist. Chief William Tedford stated that this recent incident is just one example of the many times that the men and women of the Somerset Police Department have worked together in a coordinated effort to help our citizens.