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Merrill |
Numerous agencies continue to search a 100-square-mile area of the Chesapeake Bay for Philip Merrill, who is feared dead after his boat was found unoccupied near Breezy Point in Calvert County five days ago.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Baltimore City Fire Department have volunteered to assist the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) in their ongoing search for Merrill.
Merrill is a well known Marylander who is publisher of The Annapolis Gazette, and former NATO ambassador.
The Anne Arundel Fire Department has dispatched four personnel, one boat, and one side scan sonar to assist for the recovery efforts. The Baltimore Fire Department has dispatched 18 personnel, one side scan sonar and one boat. The Anne Arundel Police Department has dispatched a helicopter.
The United States Coast Guard concluded their search support on June 12.
Currently, there are seven boats assisting with the recovery mission:
• 3 NRP boats and 1 Baltimore City boat are conducting surface searches;
• 1 NRP boat is conducting a side scan sonar search using NRP equipment;
• 1 NRP boat is conducting a side scan sonar search using Baltimore City Fire Department equipment; and,
• 1 Anne Arundel County Fire Department boat is conducting a side scan sonar search using Anne Arundel County equipment.
There are a number of civilian volunteers conducting surface searches, including representatives from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Additionally, aviation units from the NRP and Anne Arundel County Police Department are also being utilized today. Weather permitting, one helicopter from each organization will conduct two flights, each.
As of Thursday afternoon, approximately 18 square miles of the over 100-square mile search area have been searched with the side scan sonar, a device used to scan the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay.
DNR will release information as it becomes available. NRP will continue their recovery effort until Mr. Merrill is found.
