Missing Man's Dog Helps Off-Duty Officer Locate Him In Woods

MANCHESTER, NJ – An off-duty Manchester police officer located a missing, endangered man after a nine hour search in the Crossley Preserve with the help of the man's dog.

On Friday, Nov. 27 just after 8 p.m., Manchester police received a report that Fred Rapp, 78, was missing. His daughter told police he was last seen in Lacey Township earlier that day and provided information about his current medical and cognitive condition, according to Manchester Police.

Police tracked Rapp's location using his cellphone's GPS information, which showed him in the Crossley Preserve area. Police searched the woods using a drone and an all-terrain vehicle but were unable to find Rapp or his car.

According to police, multiple attempts to reach Rapp by phone through the evening and night. were unsuccessful. Around 5:45 a.m. the next day, Rapp answered a call from a sergeant on the force.

Rapp told the sergeant that he had crashed his car in the woods and did not know where he was, but moments later told the sergeant someone was with him. Rapp handed his phone to off-duty Manchester Sergeant Charles Brooks, who had been hunting in the area at the time, police said.

Brooks escorted Rapp to an area that was accessible by vehicle, and Rapp was transported to Community Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.

According to police, Brooks was hunting in the area when he found a dog, later identified as Rapp's dog Petie, alone on a nearby trail. Brooks followed the dog's paw prints for several hundred yards, which ultimately led him to Rapp.

"This situation highlights the fact that a police officer is a police officer 24/7," said Manchester Police Chief Lisa Parker. "We are truly fortunate that Sgt. Brooks was in the right place at the right time because without his help there is no telling how this story would have ended."

Rapp's vehicle was eventually located on Tuesday.