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Sheriff’s Search Dogs Recover Missing Man after Devastating Flood in Hardy, Arkansas

Release Date: September 25, 2006

Ed Apple	Vicki Roye	Patty Wood
Emergency Services Volunteers

Volunteers with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Sheriff’s Squad assisted emergency workers in Hardy, Arkansas today in response to the deadly flood that occurred in that town this past weekend.

Three members of the Shelby County all-volunteer squad and their specially trained dogs assisted in the search which led to the recovery of a man’s body missing since early Saturday morning.

“I commend these volunteers for their dedication to help others in need.  This was a devastating event in Hardy, Arkansas.  I am pleased the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Squad could be of assistance,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

This morning, the body of Steve “Jackie” Richardson, 55, of Truman, Arkansas, a retired police officer and firefighter from that community, was found in the Spring River by two of the Shelby County Emergency Services dogs.

Mr. Richardson and other members of his family were forced out of their travel trailer in the River Bend Trailer Park in Hardy early this past weekend.  Rescue workers say Richardson got out of the trailer and was clinging to a tree limb just after 3:30 Saturday morning when he complained of chest pains and then slipped under the water.

About 11:50 this morning, Richardson’s body was located by “Bet,” a Border Collie, handled by volunteer Vicki Roye (ROYE pronounced ROY is the correct spelling) and “Sam”, a Labrador Retriever handled by Emergency Services Volunteer Ed Apple.

Another volunteer, Patty Wood and her dog, “Angel,” a Yellow Labrador Retriever, also assisted in the search. 

Emergency Services Volunteer Apple was already in Hardy this past weekend vacationing in the family cabin.  Ironically, he and his family had to be rescued when the water began to rise.  The cabin was not damaged but two vehicles were destroyed.

Apple and his family returned to Memphis Saturday night then Apple went back to Hardy yesterday afternoon with his dog “Sam” to search for the missing man.  He was joined today by Ms. Wood and Ms. Roye.

The Shelby County Emergency Services Squad is an all-volunteer bureau of the Sheriff’s Office which has about 100 members.

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