Family, Volunteers Search Des Plaines River for Missing Teen, Question Police Efforts

OAK PARK, IL — A tattered strip of police tape stirred in the wind as it hung from a hole in the chain link fence that friends, family and volunteers ducked through to begin the community search for Cameron Sanders, 16, who has been missing since jumping in the Des Plaines River Saturday. Community member Anthony Clark launched a search for Sanders after rescue crews halted efforts Sunday evening. Shortly before the community search was announced, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said Monday afternoon that the sheriff's office was taking over the operation.

Family members feel that search crews did not do enoughto locate Sanders. Helicopters, boats and dogs initially searched Saturday and Sunday, but stopped the recovery efforts. Sanders' sister, Jerika Sanders, 19, said she wants everyone to"Just keep looking, keep looking for my brother. Don't let the police tell you they are out here looking. These are volunteers. This is the community." Jerika said her brother, who could not swim, was encouraged to jump in by friends who did not join today's search.

The community effort was organized by Clark, an Oak Park resident who heads up Suburban Unity Alliance. The outcry for help finding Sanders was far-reaching and spurred many local residents to action. Omar Yamini, 40, of Oak Park, read about the volunteer search on Facebook when he was picking up his 2-year old daughter from day care. The search struck a chord with Yamini, who has three daughters of his own and is frustrated authorities have not done more to aid the search.

>>Related: Cook County Sheriff Takes Over Des Plaines River Search for Missing Teen

"If we stay silent about things like this nothing is going to get done," he said.

Just a few police officers were present at the site of the community search, but as family members returned through the chain link fence after their vigil, the broken police line was the lone sign of police involvement.