ELDERLY MAN LOCATED BY NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT

THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECEIVED A CALL AT 9:50 PM THURSDAY NIGHT SAYING THAT 90 YEAR OLD CLINTON D. GREENBANK OF WHITE WATER COURT IN PUNTA GORDA WAS LAST SEEN AT 6PM. THE RELATIVES WHO CALLED SAID THAT GREENBANK HAD LEFT IN A GOLF CART TO GO FISHING AT A POND NEAR THE REAR OF HIS PROPERTY BUT HAD NOT RETURNED. THEY SEARCHED AND FOUND HIS CART BEHIND A NEIGHBOR’S RESIDENCE BUT COULD NOT FIND HIM. THAT’S WHEN THEY CALLED THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. SEVERAL DEPUTIES AND A K-9 UNIT RESPONDED AND THEN CALLED THE COUNTY AVIATION UNIT TO ASSIST. USING HEAT SEEKING “FLIR” NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT, A PILOT AND SPOTTER LOCATED A PERSON JUST BEFORE 10:30 PM ABOUT TWO HUNDRED FEET INSIDE A HEAVILY WOODED AREA FAR AWAY FROM THE HOME AND POND. GREENBACK, WHO WAS LYING BENEATH SOME PALMETTO BUSHES GOT UP AND STARTED WAVING AT THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT GUIDED GROUND SEARCHER’S TO GREENBANK’S LOCATION. HE WAS CHECKED BY EMS AND THEN REUNITED WITH HIS FAMILY.