Buford, United States - August 21, 2024

In a commendable display of dedication and bravery, officers from the Gwinnett County Police Department successfully rescued a 77-year-old man who had been missing and was found submerged in a creek near Interstate 85 in Buford.

The incident began on August 20 when the man, a resident of Snellville, was reported missing by his family. Concerned about his mental health and safety, family members noted that his car, a Chrysler Pacifica, was also missing. Utilizing Gwinnett County's traffic camera system, police traced the vehicle parked on the side of I-85 Northbound.

Initial searches on the day of the report did not locate the man, prompting the police to issue a Mattie's Call, an alert system designed for missing elderly or disabled individuals. Despite the initial setback, the search continued into the next day with renewed vigor.

On the morning of August 21, officers from the North Precinct, including Sgt. Brett Shirley, Lt. John Cleland, and Cpl. Andrew Palmer, reconvened at the site. Their efforts paid off when Sgt. Shirley, calling out into the wooded area adjacent to the highway, received a faint response. The team quickly located the man, who had fallen and was lying in a creek, submerged for several hours.

The officers, risking their own safety, navigated the challenging terrain to reach the man. They managed to extricate him from the water and immediately coordinated with the Gwinnett County Fire Department for medical assistance. The elderly man was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.