[SAHUARITA, AZ – July 11, 2024] – On Thursday, July 11, 2024, at approximately 3:50 PM, the Sahuarita Police Department received a call regarding a 62-year-old male who walked away from a recreational area at Rancho Resort, a gated community on the west side of Sahuarita. Based on factors reported by the 911 caller, the missing male was deemed to be at risk. At the time of the report, the outside temperature in Sahuarita was 108 degrees.

Sahuarita Police Department held over day shift personnel and called in additional staffing to assist in the search. In all, 13 SPD officers assisted in the search. Two drones were deployed and conducted area searches surrounding the community. Additional officers were deployed on ATVs, searching the desert areas near the community. Santa Rita Fire Department, hearing the call that Sahuarita Police were working and noting the temperature, offered their assistance and sent four engine companies and a paramedic unit to search area roadways for the missing man.

At 6:15 PM, SPD officers on ATVs searching in the area observed the missing man in the desert area adjacent to the neighborhood. Santa Rita Fire Personnel were on the scene and medically evaluated the male. He was found to be in good health and unharmed.

The Sahuarita Police Department would like to express its appreciation for those who assisted in the search and the resources deployed by the Santa Rita Fire Department in searching for one of our community members. Safeguarding all of our community members is a joint effort.