Town of Bolivar
Allegany County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 27 at 11:45 p.m., Forest Ranger Thaine responded to a request from Allegany Dispatch to assist in the search for a missing 70-year-old with Parkinson’s disease.

The subject was last seen at his Bolivar home at 2 p.m., when he said he was going back into the woods with his dog to retrieve his ATV. When the subject didn’t return by dark, family and friends searched before calling 911.

Ranger Thaine joined New York State Police, Bolivar Police, and the Allegany County Sheriff’s Department in the search effort. Bolivar Fire responded with volunteers and UTVs. Crews searched the woods, trails, and roads through the night.

At 6:45 a.m., the Allegany County Sheriff’s Department drone unit spotted the subject in the woods, a short distance from the road, approximately half a mile from his home.

Troopers and members of the drone crew went to the location to find the man with his dog and helped walk the subject out to the road. The subject was disoriented, injured from a fall, and cold. Bolivar Ambulance transported them to the hospital for evaluation.