Gwinnett police officers commended for rescuing missing man submerged in creek

Click or tap on the video link below for footage of the rescue

(Buford, Ga., August 10, 2024) – Several Gwinnett County police officers are being commended after they rescued a missing elderly male who was submerged in a creek off the interstate in Buford.

Officers initially responded to a missing person call on August 20 in reference to a missing 77-year-old man from Snellville.  Members of the man’s family called police after they were unable to locate him.  His family told officers that the male’s car was missing, and he was possibly suffering from a mental health issue and they were concerned for his safety.  Officers were able to search traffic cameras in Gwinnett County and discovered the male’s Chrysler Pacifica parked on the side of I-85 Northbound near Buford.  Officers conducted an initial search of the area on August 20 but were unable to locate him.  Officers contacted detectives and had the missing man listed as a missing person under a Mattie’s Call.  A Mattie’s Call is an emergency missing alert for a disabled or elderly person.

The following morning, officers with the Gwinnett County Police Department’s North Precinct met up at the location where the male’s car was discovered to conduct a thorough search of the area.  While searching the wood line along the interstate, Sgt. Brett Shirley called out for the male and heard a response.  Sgt. Shirley, Lt. John Cleland, and Cpl. Andrew Palmer climbed down to the area where they heard the male’s voice and found him lying in a creek.  The male had fallen and been submerged in the water for several hours before officers found him.  Officers were able to pull the male from the water and get him medical help from the Gwinnett County Fire Department.

The male was eventually transported to a local hospital.