Sheriff’s helicopter, police drone help search for missing dirt biker in Pierce County
Second update: The man texted the caller Friday, saying he lost the bike down a mountain and that he was sorry, sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss told The News Tribune.
The man was uninjured and was not an at-risk individual, Moss said. The motorcycle in his possession was never found. He has a history of stealing vehicles, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Update: The man is still missing as of noon Thursday. The Sheriff’s Department called off the search Wednesday.
Initial post: Crews are searching for a 32-year-old man last seen Tuesday in the Tehaleh area.
Around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, a caller contacted the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department about his friend who had been missing since 3 p.m.
On Tuesday the man and the caller rode dirt bikes in a wooded area west of 179th Avenue East and Tehaleh Boulevard East, sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss said.
The caller last saw the man pushing one of the dirt bikes up a trail, Moss said. The caller spent hours searching for his friend.
The Orting Police Department used a drone to try to find the man. The King County sheriff’s helicopter, Guardian 1, also helped with the search.
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, the man has not been found.
The 32-year-old man is 6-foot-2 and weighs about 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, jeans and boots.
Those who have information can call the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department at 253-287-4455.
Moss said they don’t plan on releasing the name or a photo of the missing man at this point because “the circumstances do not meet requirements for any alerts,” and they don’t have “information about him being in any danger.”
This story was originally published May 29, 2024 at 1:41 PM.
