West Windsor Police Department Found Missing/Endangered Person On July 24

Press release from the West Windsor Police Department:

July 24, 2020

PRESS INFORMATION:

INCIDENT: 2020-16067 Missing/Endangered Person

DATE & TIME OCCURRED: Wednesday July 22, 2020 at 8:54 pm (reported)

LOCATION OCCURRED: West Windsor Community Park

VICTIM: 25 year old
Resident of West Windsor, NJ 08550

OTHERS INVOLVED:
1) WWPD Patrol Division, Detective Bureau, & Administration
2) WW Division of Fire & Emergency Services Squad #45
3) Princeton Junction Vol. Fire Company Station #44
4) WW Vol. Fire Company Station #43
5) Fire Police
6) Plainsboro Vol. Fire Company Station #49
7) Mercer County Sheriff's Office
8) Robbinsville Twp. PD
9) New Jersey State Police
10) New Jersey Search and Rescue
11) Mid Atlantic Search and Rescue
12) Community Search and Rescue
13) Lambertville New Hope Rescue
14) Ramapo Rescue Dogs
15) Central Jersey K-9
16) Mercer County Communications
17) Mercer County Emergency Services Communcation Center

DETAILS: On Wednesday July 22, 2020 at 8:54 pm, a 25 year old resident was reported as Missing/Endangered. Investigation revealed the following: the 25 year old was believed to have been last seen at approx. 5:30 pm walking (3) family dogs and frequently takes them to the Dog Park at the West Windsor Community Park located at 193 Princeton-Hightstown Road. The victim's mother contacted the WWPD after "good Samaritans" found the (3) dogs wandering without any caretaker nearby and returned them to the mother's residence.

Patrol Units, led by Sgt. LaTorre #468 began a search of the area between the victim's residence and the Community Park. In addition, the victim was entered into the NCIC/SCIC as a Missing/Endangered Person. The initial search yielded negative results for the Missing Person.

On Thursday July 23, 2020 another search was conducted in daylight with multiple Officers in addition to K-9s from WWPD, Robbinsville Twp. PD, and the Mercer County Sheriff's Office. While the lengthy search was ongoing the WWPD Detective Bureau was continuing the investigation into the Missing Person. Once again, the search met with negative results for the Missing Person but yielded vital information.

On Friday July 24, 2020 a task force of Search and Rescue teams was set for a massive search of the Community Park and nearby neighborhoods. The Community Park was closed to the general public by Fire Police while the search continued as well as the Investigation. Ptl. Sabatino/Drone Pilot and K-9s working in unision, began a systematic search of the banks of the Grover's Mill Pond. At 2:27 pm, Drone Pilot Sabatino with K9 Support located the Missing/Endangered Person in a very secluded (thick foliage) who had been missing approximately 45 Hours. Those 45 hours included very heavy thunderstorms and extreme heat. The victim, who was conscious, was transported to a local hospital for evaluation by Squad #45.

Chief Garofalo wanted to thank each & every person who assisted in the successful outcome. They never gave up in finding this person. Without the teamwork, incredible efforts from numerous agencies, and the usage of the latest technologies (including K-9s and Drones), this incident would have had a tragic ending.

OFFICER PREPARING RELEASE: Lt. Lee #359

DATE OF RELEASE: 7/24/2020

This press release was produced by the West Windsor Police Department. The views expressed here are the author’s o...