Contact: Sgt. Joy Matthews
PH: (616) 632-6106
EM: joy.matthews@kentcountymi.gov

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (March 9, 2021) – The Kent County Sheriff’s Office is planning a search in Plainfield Township for a missing endangered person.

On 03/09/2021, deputies from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a follow-up search in the wooded areas of Belmont for missing endangered person, Richard Drayton. As a result of the search, residents may observe a large police presence, including the use of drones, K-9s, and mounted patrol. Although we continue to ask for the public’s help in locating Richard, we kindly request that residents refrain from assisting or interfering with the search.

Richard was last seen on 01/25/2021 at 10:00 AM walking away from his residence in Belmont. Previous searches conducted by the KCSO and Kent County Search and Rescue (KCSAR) have been unsuccessful. As investigators continue to follow-up on tips, they are hopeful that the change in weather will generate some new leads on Richard’s whereabouts.

Richard is a white male, 5’8”, 145 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing an oversized dark fleece-lined hooded jacket and possibly gray sweatpants. Two pictures of Richard are attached to this release. Anyone with information on Richard’s whereabouts is asked to call the Kent County Sheriff’s Office at (616) 632-6357. A previous press release regarding Richard’s disappearance was distributed on 01/27/2021.

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