PLYMOUTH, Wis — Plymouth Police have called off the search for Kevan McClintock.
"We came to the difficult decision to discontinue the search efforts. We have searched the river, its banks and other areas we feel Mr. McClintock may have been. To continue searching beyond what we have done, would compromise the safety of the search and rescue teams," Plymouth Deputy Chief of Police, Christopher Ringel, said.
McClintock was first reporter missing Thursday afternoon. Search crews were looking for him earlier today in the river, around the area he was last believed to be, and via drone but didn't come up with anything.
McClintock had a dog that was fond of water but not a strong swimmer. It's believed his dog may have gone in the rushing water, and McClintock went in after it. However, multiple days of heavy rain made the banks slippery and the current strong.
"He's a good friend," John Saladini of Plymouth said. "He'd do a lot for people. Some people didn't give him the time of day but if you got to sit down and know him over a beer or two, he was always a good guy. He'd do a lot for people. That's why I'm out here."
Saladini says he's been friends with McClintock for the last 15 years and the two frequently go hunting together. Despite his friend being gone for over 36 hours, he maintains faith he'll be found alive.
"There's always hope," Saladini said. "You always got to hope. So we're going to keep looking."
Saladini says McClintock had a year and a half old Chesapeake Bay Retriever that rarely left his side. The dog loved the water, but is not a good swimmer. It's part of the reason police believe McClintock may have jumped in the water after it.
