Sheriff K9 Officer Tracks Down Lost Milwaukee Hiker: Report

RACINE COUNTY, WI — A 79-year-old hiker, presumed lost, was tracked down by a Racine County Sheriff's Deputy and his K9 partner over the weekend.

At just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Racine County Sheriff's deputies received a report of an elderly man who went for a hike in the Honey Creek Wildlife refuge off of Highway W in the village of Rochester. The caller said they went out at noon, and the elderly man had not returned to his car yet.

The caller stated that he too had been in the area hiking and had been looking for the man for a while but could not find him. The temperature in the area was in the low 30s and snow was starting to fall. The first Sheriff's deputies on scene attempted to call to the hiker, with no response.

The lost hiker was found to be a 79-year-old Milwaukee resident. Racine County Sheriff K9 units, DNR wardens and Rochester Fire and Rescue were called to the scene to start a search. Three Racine County K9 units were sent out with search teams attached to them. The first team sent out was led by Deputy Troy Ruffalo and his K9 partner Nitro. They had a good track and after about 30 minutes of tracking they located the lost hiker.

The hiker was brought out to a waiting rescue squad and was found to be hungry and thirsty but in otherwise good health.

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