Manhunt in Hilton Head Plantation was done right
A recent letter criticized the leadership of Hilton Head Plantation and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office for not doing more to find James Holub, who was missing for almost 40 hours. It is a wise procedure to garner the facts before second-guessing a well-orchestrated, multi-agency, community-involved search effort.
Under Hilton Head Plantation Security Department protocols, the Sheriff’s Office automatically becomes the lead agency when a person is reported missing. The following methods were among the initiatives utilized: the K-9 unit, a helicopter observation, night-vision scopes, drones and Community Emergency Response Teams. The golf courses were notified and provided with pictures of Mr. Holub, so they could alert their clientele of the situation and engage their assistance.
A cadre of sheriff’s deputies, security officers, Palmetto Coastal Landscaping employees, and the Town of Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue department all engaged in the search. Email blasts were sent out asking for the assistance of Hilton Head Plantation residents to search their property and report any evidence of Mr. Holub.
Ultimately, it was the email blasts that alerted a family on Horseman Lane to report a sound heard from the 137-acre Whooping Crane Pone Conservancy. The conservancy is a natural area that is partially underwater, depending on the season, and home to alligators, venomous snakes, coyotes, bobcats, mosquitoes, etc. Placing untrained and unequipped citizens in such an environment would have placed them in harm’s way.
We are grateful for the work of all involved.
Peter Kristian
General Manager
Hilton Head Plantation POA
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