Police scour nature area for missing man

Officers from two local police departments spent hours Monday afternoon searching an expansive conservation area for a missing adult man, who was located safely in Merrimack later in the evening, according to a law enforcement official.

Few specific details about the search or the man were known by press time, as Amherst officers said Police Chief Peter Lyon was the only one authorized to release more information. Lyon was not home when called Monday night and a message left was not immediately returned.

Amherst Sgt. Anthony Ciampoli said Monday evening that members from both departments had been looking for a missing adult male, and the search had been going on for six hours. That puts the estimated starting time around noon.

Merrimack Police Chief Michael Milligan said Amherst called his department for assistance in the search for the man, described to Milligan as “despondent.”

Initially, Milligan said, his officers weren’t sure if the man was staying at a home in town, or perhaps trying to find his own home, but “that didn’t appear to be the case,” he said.

No other details were available about the man, although he was not described to Milligan as an elderly individual.

After receiving Amherst’s request, several of Milligan’s officers began looking in Horse Hill Nature Preserve, where the man had reportedly been seen walking. The preserve is a 563-acre conservation area south of Amherst Road and West of Naticook Road. Police also looked in areas neighboring Horse Hill, Milligan said.

Eight or nine police cruisers were seen gathered at one of the preserve’s entrances on Amherst Road in Merrimack just before 5 p.m., including a police vehicle hauling an all-terrain vehicle trailer. It is unclear whether ATV’s were used in the search.

Milligan was told that the man was eventually spotted in the area of Baboosic Lake Road.

It is unclear what time the man was reported found.

Merrimack emergency medical responders evaluated the man, Milligan said, adding that he did not know if he needed further medical treatment.

By 5:30 p.m., several cruisers were seen leaving the preserve’s entrance. A Merrimack officer remained there with the ATV trailer but was gone by 7 p.m.

Karen Lovett can be reached at 594-6402 or klovett@nashuatelegraph.com.