Yell of 'Help Me' Prompts Search

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director


About 35 people from more than half a dozen organizations searched last night and today for a person calling for help in Roulette Township, but didn't find anyone.

Coudersport-based state police say they received a call at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday from a resident of Atkins Road reporting that they heard a male voice yelling, "Help me!"

The caller checked with neighbors and area residents, and searched part of the area before calling police. Four other area residents also heard the call for help.

When police arrived, they also heard the call for help, but didn't find anyone during a "hasty" search of the area.

Police then contacted the Roulette Fire Department for help searching the area of Fishing Creek Road, Atkins Road and the West Branch of Fishing Creek Road.
The area within hearing distance was thoroughly searched before the effort was called off at 1 a.m. because of darkness. They used a thermal imaging device during the search.

The searched resumed during daylight hours today, using additional manpower. They searched the original area, and then widened the search area.

"A thorough search was made for an approximate 1-mile radius of the focal point with negative results," police said.

A state police helicopter was used for a short time today, but was "severely limited" due to weather conditions.

Police say they have determined that anyone in need of assistance Wednesday evening is no longer at that location and no longer in need of assistance.

Police did check with area hospitals and learned that no treatment was provided for anyone with outdoor related activities.

Further, they say there are no current missing person reports filed with police agencies in the area to match the description of this incident.

Besides Coudersport state police and the Roulette Fire Department, others involved in the search were Roulette Ambulance, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the state Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Emergency Management Agency. The Coudersport Volunteer Fire Department was on standby as medical officers with an RTV.

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Thanks to James Jones for the photo of the Potter County Emergency Services Incident Command Trailer. For more photos, and comments from PSP Cpl. Michael Murray, go to Solomon's Words.

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