River Searched After Fishing Gear Is Found Near Water

by Nicole Reome | June 6, 2008 7:08 am

FULTON, NY – A fisherman’s discovery spearheaded a precautionary search of the Oswego River Thursday morning after abandoned fishing gear was found near the river’s edge in the city of Fulton.

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Police said a local fisherman made the discovery of a large amount of fishing equipment on land early Thursday, adjacent to the Oswego River, and contacted the police department. The report came in at 10:30 a.m.

“As a precaution, the river was searched by air and water north of the city of Fulton,” police said in a release issued Thursday afternoon. The police department was assisted by the Fulton Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and several local emergency response agencies.

The search concluded at 3:45 p.m.

“The search was unsuccessful and at this point it is believed the equipment may have been abandoned by a group of fisherman,” the release said.

Deputy Chief Thomas Abelgore said that the search was not prompted by any evidence that someone may have fallen into the river.

“There was no eyewitnesses or any physical evidence to indicate someone had fallen in,” Abelgore said.

Abelgore pointed out that the gear was found in a remote area near the end of the break wall. Because of the way the gear looked when it was found, he said it is possible that someone may have left it purposefully.

“It looked like a little camping area,” he said. “There were beer bottles and things like that. … Everything was neatly picked up. Someone took some care to put everything away.”

Abelgore said the police department has secured the fishing gear. He said the search is called off at this point, unless police receive additional information that would suggest the need for additional efforts.

“We are waiting at this point for someone to report it stolen,” he said.

Anyone with information about the owners of the equipment has been asked to contact the Fulton Police Department at (315) 598-4504.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/river-searched-after-fishing-gear-is-found-near-water/

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