Jefferson City search ends after missing man found safe

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mont. — The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) reported a search that began after a text-to-911 message on Thursday, May 7 ended when a missing man was found on Friday, May 8.

JCSO said dispatch received the message at about 5 p.m. from a person who reported being separated from a friend while exploring near U.S. Forest Service Road 4032 and Tizer Lake Road in the Elkhorn Mountains east of Jefferson City.

Crews began searching for the missing friend, according to the sheriff's office. The office identified him as an adult man from Lewis and Clark County.

Authorities found him at about 1 p.m. off Crow Creek Road in Broadwater County. He was dehydrated but safe.

JCSO thanked Elkhorn Search & Rescue, Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue, Broadwater County Search and Rescue, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office for helping in the search.

It also credited the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Law Enforcement, the United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, the Montana National Guard, Butte Life Flight Network, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services and Jefferson County Emergency Management/Fire Warden.

The office also thanked the man's family and friends for helping coordinate during the search.