Search continues for Hood Porterville man went missing March 15
HOOD, page 5A
Tulare County Sheriff’s Office personnel continue their search for Charles Hood, a Porterville man who was reported missing by his family on Thursday, March 15.
Hood, 82, was reportedly last seen at approximately 1:15 p.m. on March 15 in the Porterville area. Hood was on his way to the Porterville and or the Tulare DMV.
Hood is described as a white male adult, 5-foot, 3-inches tall, and thin build weighing 145 pounds. Hood was last seen driving his 2003 silver, Chrysler minivan, bearing California license plate number 4XSW480.
He was last seen wearing brown slacks and a white and red polo shirt.
Sgt. Gary Marks with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, said Thursday morning he and several other sheriff’s office personnel are currently working with Hood’s family, searching inside and out of the area adjacent to Jeff Hood Used Cars in Porterville.
“We are coming back to the residence and we are just checking the house,” Marks said, adding that this time he is still not suspecting any form of foul play. “We are just coming back and doing a boots-on-theground search making sure we haven’t missed anything.”
After searching the property, Marks said department personnel would start searching the fields nearby going north and south.
“We have been getting multiple telephone calls from the community,” Marks said, adding that the sheriff’s office appreciates the community’s help because, “Cases like this get solved by the community.”
Marks said members of the sheriff’s department in the City of Porterville and in nearby communities have been passing out fliers for businesses to hang on their doors to help locate Hood.
Marks said Porterville React, a nonprofit organization, is also helping in the search.
“They asked to assist us and, from what I understand, they have a team that is actually going to be coming out searching the area,” Marks said.
There is also a public group on Facebook called “Harold Hood Silver Alert Search,” which is full of Facebook users spreading pictures, descriptions, and other information in hopes of finding Hood.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Hood is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Violent Crimes Detective Bureau Dispatch at 7336218 or (800) 808-0488, the Tip Now Line at 725-4194, or by e-mail to tcso@tipnow.com.