Bend police K-9 finds missing Sunriver man

A Bend police K-9 found a man who wandered from his Sunriver home Saturday morning and he was taken to St. Charles Bend, where he was listed in serious condition, Sunriver police said.

Police were called to the home around 9:20 a.m. after the man’s wife awoke to find him missing and the front door wide open, said Sgt. Joe Patnode.

Officers were advised the man, whose name was not released, had been suffering from health issues recently, raising serious concerns for his safety and well-being,

Sunriver officers activated Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and requested a tracking dog from Bend police. A search of the home did not turn up the missing man – but a short time later, the K-9 team of “Ranger” the bloodhound and his partner, Officer Kyle Voll found the man in a wooded area near the home, Patnode said. He was taken to the hospital by Sunriver EMS ambulance.

The Sunriver Police Department offered thanks to employees and volunteers from Bend Police, Deschutes County SAR and Sunriver Fire for their help.