One shoe, two fishing poles and a tackle box found in the water is the only trace so far of Caraway, who was reported missing by his friend after he did not return from fishing in the 2900 block of East state Route 571, Haller said in a release.
“Evidence indicates that the victim is in the area and in the water,” Haller said. “We ask everyone to avoid the area until further notice.”
Tipp City police will secure the site throughout the night, and recovery efforts will resume Tuesday morning with the addition of a team from Search and Rescue Ohio, Haller said.
Crews were called shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday to the gravel pit after Caraway’s friend reported the man missing, with his car still there.
Tipp City police and fire crews searched on foot near and around the pond and along the Great Miami River, which is across the road. The Vandalia Fire Division brought in drones with thermal imaging, but they did not find any heat sources coming from a person. The Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter was flying nearby and also searched for evidence of heat signatures from the air but did not find any, according to a release from Haller.
After crews did not find the man or see any signs of a person in the water the search was called offed around 11 p.m. Sunday with planning arranged to resume Monday morning, Haller said.
Search teams met around 8 a.m. Monday and returned to the scene around 8:20 a.m. A dive and rescue team from the Piqua Fire Department, a crew from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and a Wright-Patterson Air Force Base team with an underwater drone also responded.
The Beavercreek Twp. Fire Department with a K-9 and All Star K-9 conducted searches with service dogs trained in recovery efforts.
An ODNR crew found a shoe, two fishing poles and a tackle box around 11 a.m. in the water. The friend who made the report confirmed the gear belonged to Caraway, whose family and friends are aware of the situation, Haller said.
Water in the gravel pits is about 3 to 5 feet higher than usual. Despite higher temperatures recently, the water is still cold and can incapacitate someone within minutes, Haller said.
“If you are going to go fishing, we implore you to wear a life jacket at all times,” Haller said.
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