Second search for missing man

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This article was published 04/12/2024 (511 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A search and rescue boat hugged the shoreline, pummeling the icy portions of the Assiniboine River as it made its way down the partially frozen waterway and passed under Brandon’s First Street bridge on Tuesday morning.

The boat was looking for 39-year-old Brandon resident Jeffrey Floresco, who has been missing for 12 days.

Members of Floresco’s family could be seen waiting patiently along the snowy riverbank, on the east side of First Street.

Brandon police say Floresco was last seen on surveillance camera on Nov. 21 at about 6 a.m. in the 400 block of Rosser Avenue in the city’s downtown.

He is described as six-foot-one, of medium build — weighing 175 pounds — and has brown hair and green eyes. In addition to the description released by Brandon Police Service, Floresco may have shaved his beard at the time he went missing.

A rescue boat manned by five team members of the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART) conducted the search operation using an amphibious air boat.

HEART was founded by two brothers who are members of the Oak Bluff Colony located near Morris — about 244 kilometres southeast of Brandon. It has been helping the RCMP, local fire and police departments, and search and rescue teams since 2014. On Monday, HEART posted a notice on its Facebook page saying they had been dispatched to the area to assist in the search.

One member on board was seen operating a drone, another had a radio headset. The boat was launched at Dinsdale Park, with Const. Adam Potter — BPS’s missing persons co-ordinator — also seen onboard with a radio transmitter.

The boat travelled along the winding Assiniboine River, breaking the ice as it criss-crossed from bank to bank. While police have offered no explanation as to why the search was being conducted by the river, it is the second such search launched in the last few days.

A group of Floresco’s friends said they conducted a search of their own on Sunday afternoon, trying to retrace Floresco’s last known route.

Justin Barnes, a friend, said he has known Floresco since high school.

“Jeff is a great guy,” he said. “Our search came up empty, we couldn’t find anything.”

Several members of Floresco’s family, including his mother, father, wife, sister and brother-in-law, watched Tuesday morning’s search, looking on as the boat made its way along the riverbank.

A woman, who was identified as Floresco’s mother, told a Sun staffer, “It’s too delicate a situation right now to comment.”

While BPS could not confirm the search was related to Floresco’s disappearance, Janet Reichert, a recruitment and communications specialist, said BPS is “currently conducting an active investigation.”

“We are utilizing all available resources to further its progress and are unable to release any specific details or particulars regarding the investigation. We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation,” said Reichert in an email.

Anyone with information about Jeffrey Floresco’s whereabouts is requested to call BPS at 204-729-2345. Anonymous tips can be shared with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

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