SCSO wraps-up search efforts for missing man
Photo courtesy of SCSO/ Search and rescue personnel meet Sunday morning at their command center in Elizabeth Park to plan their operation.
Crews launch a drone from the Elizabeth Park bridge to search the banks of the river.
A local citizen volunteer uses their helicopter to cover more ground.
Harding-Thomas
KELLOGG – Officials with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) report that efforts to locate a missing Arizona man have been suspended as of Sunday afternoon.
A multi-agency search and rescue operation was initiated Saturday morning after 69- year old Lionel Harding-Thomas was reported missing by family members. The reporting party told SCSO that he had not been seen since Friday night around 11:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Park area of Shoshone County.
The first day of the search effort was spent looking around the immediate area of where the missing person was last seen.
Harding-Thomas and his wife were up visiting family from Arizona. Both were staying in an RV that was parked on property approximately 75 yards from the Coeur d’Alene River.
The second day was a more methodical effort that had units searching a large stretch of the river and the area surrounding the property where the RV is parked.
“The fear is that the subject...somehow got tangled up and entered the water-way,” SCSO Captain Jeremy Groves said. “That is kind of what the investigation has led us to conclude. That’s why the river has been our primary focus for the past two days.”
Ground crews conducted foot, vehicle and ATV patrols while using K-9’s to possibly find Harding-Thomas’ scent.
The search area covered land from Elizabeth Park west to Enaville, following the bike path and river, and east from Elizabeth Park following the same path up to the Silverton area.
Agencies involved in the operation included SCSO, Shoshone County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Kootenai County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and Shoshone County Fire District No.1.
Air resources including helicopters and drones (provided by Life flight, IDL, and private citizens) were also utilized to cover more ground and check areas that would be too dangerous for ground crews with river conditions being what they are.
Even with all of these resources though, Harding-Thomas has yet to be located.
“We’ve exhausted about every option we can,” Groves said. “Starting now with day one- not knowing a great sense of direction other than what the initial investigation led towards the water and the bike path area.”
“After two days of covering everywhere we could actually cover and check on...we will be suspending the search until we see water levels decrease and we can refocus at that time,” he added.
With recent rising temperatures, much of the winter snow pack on the surrounding hillsides is melting and creating runoff. This in-turn has caused water levels and current speeds to rise, while lowering water temperatures.
These extreme and hazardous water conditions limited the abilities of the rescue teams to conduct close inspections of the river.
Harding-Thomas is described as 6’1”, approximately 170 pounds and was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt and black sweat pants. He also suffers from multiple sclerosis and has difficulty walking without wheelchair assistance.
At this time, there is no indication that Harding-Thomas is with anyone or that foul play is involved. Groves also states that there is “nothing right now that leads towards anything self initiated.”
Although it was not the result that they or their team wished for, SCSO was incredibly appreciative of the support they received.
“We had a great turnout from the local community, Grove said. “Citizens showing up and showing their support by dropping of an abundance of food, water, and offering up help.”
If you have any information on Harding-Thomas’ whereabouts, please contact the SCSO at 208-556-1114.