Winthrop man located after 4-hour effort
TYLER – Two weeks after a missing hunter was found safe along the Columbia Plateau Trail, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office documents are painting a picture of the rescue effort.
While hunting Tuesday, Nov. 14, Robert D. Alexander, 53, of Winthrop, became lost in the Ballinger Lake area and called emergency dispatchers for help about 4:50 p.m.
He was found at 8:48 p.m. and declined medical assistance, records show.
During his initial call, Alexander told dispatchers that he had gotten lost in the dark and fog and “doesn’t know which way is north versus south,” the records show. He also told dispatchers he had been walking for the “last 8 hours and doesn’t want to walk anymore,” believing he’ll become more lost.
According to the incident reports released Tuesday, Nov. 28, deputy Nicolas Pittman was among the first on scene, arriving at about 5:20 p.m. at the intersection of South Mullinix and South Harmony Roads.
He determined the best way to access the trail in the vicinity of the hunter was via Dover Road, records show.
“I saw it was blocked by a gate and was locked,” Pittman wrote in his report. “I was able to use a hammer and break the lock open. Once the lock was broken, I was able to drive my patrol car through.”
He didn’t get too far, as downed trees blocked the road, the report shows. So, he tried accessing the trail via a gate in the Ballinger Lake area.
Meanwhile, a search and rescue team deployed to the Dover Road access and entered the area on ATVs, via the gate that Pittman had broken the lock off of.
The gates were access points to Turnbull National Wildlife Area, and Turnbull officials were notified of the search and the broken lock.
Federal Turnbull officers offered to assist in the search about 8:06 p.m.; the search and rescue team declined assistance.
The northern stretch of the Columbia Plateau State Park Trail runs from Fish Lake northeast of Cheney and meanders 23 miles to Sprague, ending at Martin Road. A southern portion runs from Sprague area to Washtucna and the Snake River Canyon, with a spur connecting to Sacajawea State Park outside Pasco.
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