A multi-agency search is underway for a Forest Grove man who walked away from his home in the Forest Gale Heights neighborhood.
Last seen Tuesday morning from a surveillance camera in the neighborhood on the edge of the Gales Creek valley, Thomas Weightman, 78, was reported missing by family members on Tuesday, Oct. 14 just after 5:30 p.m.
"He is still missing, and the search is still underway," said Forest Grove Police Department Sergeant Andrew Colasurdo, the departments public information officer. "The search remains focused in the area of the Forest Gale Heights neighborhood."
According to the Forest Grove Police Department, family members said Weightman left his home on foot near the intersection of Valley Crest Way and Circle Crest Drive at about 10 a.m. and did not return home.
"Officers were able to initially make brief contact with Thomas by cellphone," the Forest Grove Police Department said in a press release. "Thomas said he fell and was unsure of his location. Officers attempted to locate Thomas utilizing his cellphone information but were unsuccessful."
Weightman is 5'9," weighs 165 pounds, has gray hair, a gray beard, glasses, and was last seen wearing black shoes, blue jeans, a red flannel button-up shirt, and a dark colored baseball hat.
"Anyone who sees Thomas is asked to call 911," Police said.
He has no known medical issues.
The search has expanded to include K9 units, drones, the Washington County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team, Hillsboro Police Department, Oregon State Police, American Medical Response, Forest Grove Fire and Rescue and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team.
At one point, he may have walked along Gales Creek Road toward Gales Creek, according to eyewitnesses.
"Last time I saw him was last night at 6:15pm going west on Gales Creek Rd just before the cows," said Jenny Lopez Garcia, who confirmed to News in the Grove that she was referring to the dairy between Stringtown Road and Creekwood Place. She said she had called the non-emergency line and notified police Tuesday night.
Just before noon Wednesday, the search area had extended into the Gales Creek area. A Multnomah County Sheriff's Office deputy was spotted by this reporter on Gales Creek Road flying a drone over a field near Creekwood Place.
Gales Creek resident Sharon Parker (disclosure: My mother), a Gales Creek resident, described search and rescue teams combing Gales Creek Road just west of downtown Gales Creek and extending nearly to the intersection of Highway 6 and Gales Creek Road.
This story has been updated with more information on the current search location.
