Updated: 8:21 p.m.
ARK CITY — Authorities are questioning the legitimacy of a call made to police Monday afternoon regarding the report of a body floating down the Walnut River.
Cowley County Sheriff Dave Falletti confirmed to KSOK Monday evening, “Afraid so at this point.”
Falletti said police thoroughly searched the river and surrounding areas.
“We’re not sure if the information was accurate to begin with,” he added.
At approximately 1:30 Monday afternoon, police were told a body, a black male, was witnessed floating down the river “face down,” according to scanner traffic.
Ark City Fire/EMS quickly deployed a search boat at Sally’s Landing at Walnut Park. Winfield Fire/EMS not longer after arrived and deployed another boat.
By after 4 p.m., however the search was called off on the Kansas side of the state line.
Not long after, the search was called off by Kay County authorities.
Earlier:
ARK CITY — A search is underway for a body reported to authorities Monday afternoon that was witnessed floating down the Walnut River.
According to scanner traffic, authorities were alerted at approximately 1:30 p.m. that a body, described by the witness as a black male, was seen floating in the river facedown.
Ark City Fire/EMS responded with the deployment of a search boat at Aunt Sally’s Landing at Walnut Park east of Ark City by the bypass. A large loader was called in after the deployment of the search boat to remove mud from the boat ramp. Winfield Fire/EMS then arrived and deployed another search boat.
Cowley County Sheriff’s Office is also assisting.
Rivers in the area crested near flood stage over the weekend following last week’s barrage of heavy rain showers and storms.
More information will be added as soon as it becomes available.
