Search For Gannon Stauch: Sonar Device, Dogs, National Guard Members All Involved
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The search for 11-year-old Gannon Stauch continued Thursday. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said Thursday's search involved more than 100 volunteers, including search and rescue team members and National Guard members, as well as four deputies on horses, two dogs, and a remote-controlled vehicle that uses sonar to search underwater.
"With the help of our partners at Parks and Wildlife, we are using a submersible remotely operated vehicle with sonar to search undisclosed areas of water. We are not utilizing divers at this time," the sheriff's office stated on Twitter.
Officials did say they were searching in the vicinity of Johnson Reservoir, about a mile from Gannon's home.
"The reason why we are back in this area a second time is because we have special equipment from our partners that we didn't have before and that will allow us to search areas we couldn't search before," El Paso County Sheriff's Sgt. Deborah Mynatt said Thursday.
That includes bodies of water. A remote controlled device equipped with sonar attempted to peek beneath the frozen surface. The equipment was provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
"The weather will not deter us from the search. It will not stop us from searching for Gannon. We are going to be out here regardless," Mynatt said.
Gannon has been missing since Jan. 27 when his stepmother reported that he didn't return from a friend's home. Drones and a medical helicopter have also been used in the search but were not used on Thursday.
"Our focus is again is to bring Gannon home to his parents, that's what every one of us hopes to see," said Mynatt.
Our partners at KKTV were there Thursday afternoon when Mynatt spoke to the media.
Mynatt said more than 500 citizen volunteers are involved in the search. Anyone interested in joining the search must fill out an application and go through a vetting process, for their own safety. If you would like to volunteer, click here.
As of Thursday, the sheriff's office had received more than 280 tips.
Mynatt said the case is still considered a "missing person, endangered child." Mynatt said they do not have any suspects in Gannon's disappearance.
If you have tips or any information call the tip line at 719-520-6666 or email the sheriff's office at tips@elpasoco.com.
RELATED: 'Not Giving Up Hope': Gannon Stauch's Family Pleads For His Safe Return
