Police and firefighters gather Thursday to search for a reported person on the ice on the Connecticut River. Turners Falls resident Wayne Pleasant, right, who lives on Carlisle Avenue, reported seeing a person there.
Police and firefighters gather Thursday to search for a reported person on the ice on the Connecticut River. Turners Falls resident Wayne Pleasant, right, who lives on Carlisle Avenue, reported seeing a person there. Credit: Staff Photo/Paul Franz

TURNERS FALLS — Using their drones, the Greenfield Police and Fire departments assisted the Montague Police Department and Turners Falls Fire Department on Thursday afternoon to search for a possible person on the Connecticut River.

Wayne Pleasant, who lives on Carlisle Avenue overlooking the river, reported seeing a person, possibly ice fishing, out on the ice. Pleasant said the person was sitting, but then got up and started walking back to land, at which time he lost sight of the individual.

Pleasant also reported possibly seeing a kayak in the area. Police and firefighters arrived and scanned the open water and ice with binoculars, but saw nothing.

Turners Falls Fire Chief John Zellmann requested the use of Greenfield’s drones to safely search the area.

“The embankments in the area are too steep and the ice is too dangerous,” he explained.

After a search of the area using the cameras on two drones, nothing was found and the search was called off, being declared “unfounded.”

Reach Paul Franz at 413-772-0261, ext. 266 or pfranz@recorder.com.

Paul Franz is the Photo Editor of the Greenfield Recorder and has worked there since 1989. He can be reached at pfranz@recorder.com