UPDATE: Water search in Wis. Rapids discontinued, no body discovered

By Shereen Siewert

UPDATE, 5:14 p.m. — Crews have discontinued a water search for a man who was seen jumping off a Wisconsin Rapids bridge early Sunday, officials said.

No body has been found and there are no new missing person reports as of Sunday afternoon, police said.

The witness who called police described the man who jumped as white, between 5’10” and 6? tall with a thin build, shaggy hair and dark-colored clothing. Police urge anyone with a family member or friend who fits this description and could be the person the witness saw to contact authorities immediately.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department, Wood County Rescue, and Fort McCoy Fire Department brought boats to the scene. The DNR and Ft. McCoy boats had sonar locating equipment that searched the waterway and also a “grid area” of where the incident happened.

In addition to the water search, officers are continuing extra patrols in the area and have also alerted neighbors living nearby.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. — A water search is underway in Wisconsin Rapids after police responded to a report of a person who jumped off a bridge.

The Wisconsin Rapids Police Department was dispatched to the Riverview Expressway Bridge at about 5:25 a.m. A caller told police he was driving by and saw the person jump off the south side and east end of the bridge, officials said..

Crews searched both riverbanks on foot using spotlights but found nothing. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was called in to search the river by boat when daylight broke, police said.

Anyone with information should call 715-423-4444. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can also call the Wood County Crime Stoppers line at 800-325-STOP.

As of 8 a.m. officers continued searching the riverbanks. Searchers are also using boats from the DNR, the Wis. Rapids Fire Department and Wood County Rescue.