Ronnie “Bo” Burnett
If the weather remains clear, Marion County authorities this morning will resume a search for an off-road motorcycle rider reported missing since early Monday in the remote, rural area on the west side of Signal Mountain near the Hamilton-Marion county line.
Search efforts were scaled back Tuesday morning, Marion County Sheriff Ronnie “Bo” Burnett said, because a pair of detectives had been called in to sort out information to plan a more precise search for 38-year-old Chad Cook.
Police said Cook went riding off-road motorcycles with acquaintances between the Edwards Point area on Signal Mountain in Hamilton County and the Big Fork area in Marion County near the headwaters of Suck Creek.
Authorities said Cook was last seen when his motorcycle broke down around 2 a.m. Monday. Rescuers from Hamilton, Marion and Sequatchie counties searched all day Monday until passing rains made the work too difficult and dangerous Monday night, officials said.
Tuesday afternoon, the two detectives were joined by five deputies and the Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter, which arrived toward evening to take a look from the air. Burnett hoped the helicopter would get a couple of hours to scour the search area before dark closed in.