Man feared drowned was in bar

Man, feared drowned, was in bar

Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era

Jul 07, 2009 00:13 EST

Lancaster

By RYAN ROBINSON, Staff Writer

After a three-plus-hour search Sunday night for a New Jersey man feared to have drowned in the Conestoga River, police learned he had been in a local bar, they said.

A family member called police at 9:30 p.m. and said that Jerome Reid, 31, of Bridgeton, N.J., had gone fishing along the Conestoga River near South Broad Street and Almanac Avenue, city police Lt. Todd Umstead said Monday.

The caller said the man's shirt was found near the riverbank, police said. The caller thought Reid might have fallen into the river and might not know how to swim.

An extensive search of the area began at 9:47 p.m. Sunday, according to county dispatch.

Police and fire departments from Lancaster city and Lancaster Township, a river rescue group, Red Rose K-9 Search and Rescue bloodhounds and a state police helicopter were involved in the search, Umstead said.

At 1 a.m. Monday, Reid called his family and said he was fine and had been at a local bar, Umstead said.

E-mail: rrobinson@lnpnews.com