HARRIS TOWNSHIP – A 10-year old boy in Menominee County was found Thursday night after a four hour search in Harris Township. The Menominee County Sheriff’s Department says Michael Christopher Getzloff was found in a structure less than ¾ of a mile from his home on LaBelle Lane.
“Volunteerism is the cornerstone of our great community. That was demonstrated again during this emergency,” said Menominee County Sheriff Kenny Marks. “Volunteers mobilized, organized searches were planned and safely conducted and the child was found. Well done!”
The boy was first discovered missing at 5:30 Thursday night. Family members searched the area and were unable to locate the boy. Police were called at 7:15 p.m.
A unified command post was established at the Getzloff Corn Maze on County Road 551 with fire, search and rescue and law enforcement from Menominee and Delta Counties. The search included 129 people and two K-9 units. A Coast Guard helicopter was approved to join the search but was unable to do so because of fog.
The Hannahville Police Department provided a mobile command trailer for the command center. Grid searches were conducted within a 1.5 square mile area between County Road 551 to D-1 Road and LaBelle Lane to County Road 553. Buildings, corn fields, hay fields and forests were searched by rescuers on foot, ORV and rescue vehicles.
Getzloff was found just before 11:30 last night. Marks said the temperature had dropped to 49 degrees and there was fog when the boy was found.
Involved in the search were family members, community volunteers, Delta County Search & Rescue, Bay Area Mounted Search & Rescue, Hermansville Rescue, Rampart Paramedics, Harris Township Fire Department, Bark River Township Fire Department, Gourley Township Fire Department, Nadeau Township Fire Department, Sapaulding Township Fire Department, Menominee County Victim Service Unit, Hannahville Police Department, Michigan State Police, Delta County Sheriff’s Office and Menominee County Sheriff’s Office.