After a nighttime search that lasted almost six hours and nearly 12 miles between Deep Run and Kinston, authorities were able to locate a missing 72-year-old man.
According to Maj. Ryan Dawson of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, James Ferguson was found at an old car dealership in the U.S. 70/N.C. 11 area of Kinston. Ferguson was treated by Lenoir County EMS, which found him to have no injuries and his vital signs in good order.
Fergusonleft his home in Deep Run at around 3:30 p.m.; at 7:30 p.m., his family reported him missing to the LCSO. Officials interviewed friends and neighbors to help with their search of the Deep Run area.
At 10:55 p.m., information about Ferguson’s disappearance was released to the media, including The Free Press. With the help of between 15-20 calls to the LCSO from local residents, officers were able to put together a timeline of places where Ferguson had been seen during the afternoon.
With the new information, the search was shifted to the Kinston area.
“We are thankful for the different calls,” Dawson said. “Without their help, we would still be in the Deep Run area.”
According to Kinston Department of Public Safety Director Bill Johnson, Ferguson was found by officer Clinton Glover at approximately 1 a.m. on Tuesday.
Johnson said it is not uncommon for the different agencies to work together.
“We share common issues,” Johnson said.
In total, five local agencies participated in the search, including the Deep Run Volunteer Fire Department, Southwood Volunteer Fire Department, Lenoir County Emergency Management, KDPS and the LCSO.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 and Noah.Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ nclark763.
Original report:
The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in finding a missing 72-year-old man.
The LCSO is conducting a search of the Deep Run area for James Ferguson, a white male with white and gray hair, is 6-foot, 4-inches tall and approximately 250 pounds. He was last seen wearing a brown shirt and hiking boots.
He has medical problems and has not had medication since Monday morning. He is not considered dangerous.
He was seen on P.A. Nobles Store Road in Deep Run near U.S. 258 South.
The LCSO is being assisted by Lenoir County Emergency Management, Deep Run Volunteer Fire Department and the Southwood Volunteer Fire Department in the search. If anyone has any information on Ferguson, you are asked to immediately report it to the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at 252-559-6118.