Gila County Sheriff search called off - Payson man found in Phoenix

April 7, 2011

Lt. Tim Scott

News Release

**MISSING MAN LOCATED IN THE PHOENIX AREA**

Mark Alexander, 56, showed up at his sister’s residence in the Phoenix Metro area today at approximately 1:25 p.m. 

Gila County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a call from  Alexander’s sister, Ava, who said her brother was trying to ride the quad all the way to Phoenix when he had mechanical problems.  Ava said that he has been working his way to his mother’s residence and finally made it to her house. 

Sheriff’s Office Dispatch relayed the information to Search and Rescue Coordinator, Deputy Rod Cronk who was running the search operation today near the Meads Ranch area.  All Search and Rescue Volunteers were then notified to return to the command post.

Alexander called the Sheriff’s Office and explained that he was heading to the Phoenix area to look for work and did not realize that the search was going on.  He said the quad he was riding broke down around the Verde River area near Ft. McDowell and he was pushing it toward his mother’s residence when a passerby picked him and the quad up and took them to Phoenix.

Sheriff John Armer and the Gila County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Sheriff’s Office Mounted Posse, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (Ranger Helicopter) for their assistance in the search for Mr. Alexander.

Sheriff John Armer and the Gila County Sheriff’s Office send their condolences to the family and friends of Larry Woolsey who died on April 5 while searching for Mr. Alexander.           Mr. Woolsey was a member of the Gila County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Posse who were mobilized for the search for Mr. Alexander.