Bates County Sheriff's Office News Release

On March 17^th, at around 4am the Bates County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the Rockville area in reference to two subjects that were reportedly lost around the river. The two subjects were on the river snagging for spoonbill.   The first reports were that the two males had gotten separated and could not find each other.  A little later the two had found each other but was not able to find the way out of the wooded area along the river.  After it was determined that one of the males had fallen into a waterway and was wet, a call for additional manpower was requested due to temperatures being in the 20s.   An ambulance was requested and additional Deputies began to respond from home to assist in the search.

As Deputies began to respond for the search and rescue efforts in Rockville a call was received by dispatch for a possible suicide south of Virginia on V Hwy.  The caller stated that she found her boyfriend hanging in a tree.  Another ambulance was dispatched and several Deputies were redirected to the Virginia area.  Once on scene deputies were advised that the calling female had told the home owner that she had called the police but was mistaken that her boyfriend had not committed suicide.   The original calling party and her boyfriend left the residence before the Deputies could arrive.  Deputies and the Bates County Ambulance searched the area to ensure there wasn’t anyone needing medical treatment.

The two men from the Rockville search and rescue operation were found safe by the Rockville Fire Department and the Bates County Ambulance crew.