Authorities Spend $1.2 Million On 3-Day Search For Puerto Rican Man, 23, Found Hiding

The Puerto Rican and U.S. governments shelled out more than $1.2 million pooling resources in the search for a missing 23-year-old man who turned out to be hiding. Harold Carrion was reported missing by his mother earlier last week as fears mounted on the possibility that he may have drowned at a popular beach. However, after over three days of combing the waters of La Poza del Obispo, Carrion turned up alive and was found hiding in the north coastal town of Arecibo.

According to ABC News, police received an anonymous tip on Friday that led them to an abandoned structure near Garcia Park in Arecibo where they found Carrion. Details on the case are still unclear and authorities continue to pat down the motive for Carrion’s actions. He is currently detained but no charges have been confirmed. He was due to appear in court last week on unrelated charges but his mother reported him missing saying Carrion was rock climbing by the ocean at the time and fell.

San Juan Coast Guard watchstanders responded to a 911 call on Tuesday around 9:23 p.m. local time after receiving the missing person report. Two Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters were dispatched from Air Station Borinquen, while two 45-foot Response Boat-Medium was sent out from Station San Juan.

Search and rescue operations led by the U.S. Coast Guard maintained full coordination with Puerto Rico police, as emergency management officials responded with dive teams, and surface units from government sectors who scoured areas that measured about half the size of the U.S. territory. The search began on Tuesday with local authorities stating expenditures of about $200,000 while the U.S. Coast Guard forked over the use of its resources amounting to $1 million.

These included the dispatch of a boat from Puerto Rico, an HCC -144 Ocean Sentry search aircraft from Miami, two Coast Guard helicopters, and a Coast Guard response cutter. The Coast Guard suspended the search on Thursday night after conducting a total of 13 air searches.

Puerto Rico’s emergency management agency headed by Nino Correa said he was saddened and at the same time furious over the events. “The full weight of the law must fall on this type of person,” he added.

The management agency noted the fact that the crew was subjected to unnecessary exposure to bad weather and dangerous sea conditions.