This past Saturday around 11am, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the Midland Bike Trail east of Buena Vista on a report of three lost children, one, age nine, and two six-year-olds. Family members searched for two hours without luck, so they notified law enforcement.
Additional resources were called in to assist, including Chaffee County Search and Rescue. Multiple drones and a helicopter were deployed and several foot patrol search teams were sent out to conduct a grid search. Additionally, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Canine Deputy K9 Archie, “Arch” was put to work. Arch almost immediately picked up a scent from the camp and started leading searchers into the wilderness. Search and Rescue teams followed and the children were found around 2pm after having traveled approximately 1.5 miles away from their camp. They were quickly reunited with their family uninjured and in good health.
Sheriff Andy Rohrich said of the efforts, “We are so fortunate in Chaffee County to have such a highly trained and dedicated search and rescue team of volunteers for these terrifying moments. Now adding our buddy, Arch as a tool, I would match this team against any other in the state. I am very proud of them all.”
Photo Courtesy Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office
