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CLARINGTON – Several agencies in Ohio and neighboring states continue to run a section of the Ohio River after a 7-year-old boy went missing in the water at Hannibal Locks and Dam on Sunday.
“We are continuing to search,” Sheriff Charles Black said. “As long as we have directions and there is an indication that we have a place to look, we will continue until the end of time.”
He added that they were still well inside a window where signs or remains were likely to be found.
Law enforcement and emergency response services received a call Sunday afternoon.
“(The boy was) in the water and got too close to a drop off, entered the water,” Black said. He pointed to pillars and a culvert where the boy was last seen.
“We are looking for that, all the way to the locks. The dam shut off the hydros so we have officers looking for any backflow that has come out. We have boats south of the locks and the Hannibal Dam researching the grid. It’s a very long and detailed search with many entities involved in the recovery of this young man, ”he said.
Black said the dam also notified barges on the river.
“We did a number of searches that night which continued until (Monday),” he said. “This is basically the second day of the research. We have a chopper. We have cadaveric dogs. We have many boats on the water. We have divers. We are researching some areas of interest, but nothing has been located yet.
He said a meticulous search was underway.
“The sonars that are used on the boats, once they locate a potential target, they will mark it, and at that point there will be a grid search of that area,” he said.
“(Monday evening) we searched until 3 am, then we started the search at 8 am and will do it as long as we have people and divers who can go in the water,” said he declared.
“We had many entities from all over the tri-state area. West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, ”he said. “The overwhelming donations from the public and businesses in the food industry have been tremendous. “
He said entities from Dayton, Ohio, and the Ohio Division of Wildlife have provided dogs, as well as from Tyler County, West Virginia. Divers from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio also carried out research.
“We have them firefighters / rescuers. We have them from the sheriff’s offices. Just a wide range of people have responded to this effort to get it back, ”Black said.
The relief group Christian Ministry Aid is also participating in the research.
“This is going to show you how great this tri-state region is. Whenever we have adversities, when a horrible tragedy occurs, everyone comes together and we have a great response. It’s one of the best places in the country, ”Black said.
Black said it was the second time in nearly 30 years in law enforcement that he had been involved in a salvage operation on the Ohio River.
The child’s family were there and made no comment.
Anyone wishing to donate food or water or volunteer can call the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at 740-472-1612 or the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency at 740-472-2144 .
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