Name | Red CODE [1] | |
Gender | Female | |
HIST | Code Red in action: Alert clerk helps with safe return of missing man BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com It's not a prank call. If you received an automated recording this past weekend with the description of a missing man, you experienced a "Code Red." "The system is provided through the state Emergency Management Division, and we coordinated its use through (Emergency Director) Erik Hayes," said Tonyia McGirt, public information officer with the Sumter Police Department. "Whenever we have a situation that involves a young child, older adult or someone of any age with health concerns, time is of the essence. In this case, we felt the county's reverse-call system was a good way to spread the word among residents living near English Street." James McTillman was reported missing by family members about 3:15 p.m. Saturday, and the 73-year-old was found about 8 p.m. that evening at a convenience store in Mayesville. "Ultimately, a clerk at The Station turned out to be the true heroine in this situation, enabling us to return Mr. McTillman home safely," McGirt said. "Nicollette Brogdon noticed McTillman, realized something was amiss and notified authorities. We credit and thank Ms. Brogdon for her actions." While she noticed the elderly man outside the store, at first, Brogdon didn't think much of it. "He was sitting there, minding his own business," Brogdon said. "Well, he finally came in. He kept digging in his pockets and took out what looked like 10 different pairs of glasses. He kept saying, 'I don't have enough. I don't have enough. I don't know where my money went. "I kind of knew something was wrong with him, but I couldn't really tell what. He didn't seem like a person that had Alzheimer's. There was no stuttering or nothing. He didn't look like a sick old man. He looked like a regular old man, like a granddad or dad." The woman behind him was prepaying for gas. He went back outside, Brogdon said, and when the woman went to her vehicle to pump gas, she called him over to her. They both walked back in, and the woman bought him a 20-ounce drink and a banana. As he sat down to have his snack, the woman spoke to the clerk that started last July. "She said it sounded like he had Alzheimer's and he had been walking for awhile," Brogdon said. "So I called the chief of police in Mayesville." She told him about the man and that he seemed confused, like he didn't know where he was. "He told me my best bet would be to call dispatch," Brogdon said. "I told them what was going on, what he looked like, how he was acting. They asked 'what is his name,' and I got his name. They said he was the man they were looking for." An officer came out and took a picture of the man to send back to the police station. "They had to make sure he was that person," Brogdon said. "He didn't have any ID on him." Once he was confirmed as McTillman, Brogdon said she was relieved. "I'm just glad he's safe," she said. "I'm glad I was here to help. It made me feel really good. If my dad was missing, I would want someone out there to help me find my dad." This was the first time the police department had used the Code Red system, McGirt said, and future use would be weighed on a case-by-case basis based on the sensitivity and urgency of the situation. Reach Jade Reynolds at (803) 774-1250. Posted in Local news, News on Friday, February 21, 2014 [1] | |
_UID | 8EF33DF471AE463F8D804F7E1EA29339BC85 | |
Person ID | I291091 | Singleton and other families |
Last Modified | 5 Mar 2014 |
Family | Code RED | |
_UID | 1D964550639049FD863DD38715BF58F3BDA7 | |
Last Modified | 2 Mar 2024 | |
Family ID | F195324 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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