Press Release

Missing Person Located

UPDATE ON MISSING PERSON:

Joe E. Lashley has been located. He was suffering from scratches and dehydration, but in pretty good condition after being lost and out in the elements all night, according to Demopolis Police Chief Tommie Reese.

The Demopolis Police Department responded to a missing person call around 8:00 PM, on October 31, 2016. Responding Officers were told that Lashley was last heard from around 5:00 P.M., by his son. The son stated that Joe Lashley told him ...that he was stuck in a rut and was going to walk home. Joe Lashley could not give his exact location, but thought he was on his own property.

DPD Officers walked Lashley’s property, but did not find him or his vehicle. An alert was put out Statewide and on Social Media to be on the lookout for Lashley and his vehicle.
Officers later received a call from Mr. Rusty Godwin a property owner stated he has had seen the post on Facebook and had also seen Lashley and his vehicle off of County 54 near Lakeview Acres Gallion, Alabama.

After a search of the property Officers located Lashley’s vehicle, but did not find him. Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit was called in to search the area from the air, but had no success.

Around 9:52 A.M., Lashley was located approximately one and a half mile from where his vehicle was found. He was taken to Bryan Whitfield Hospital to be checked out.

Chief Reese gave thanks to God for allowing us to be able to bring him back home to his family. He also thank the members of the Demopolis Police Department, Mr. Rusty Godwin, the Marengo County Rescue Squad, the South Marengo County Rescue Squad and numerous Volunteers from West Rock Paper Mill Company Demopolis, Alabama,