Police have launched a search and rescue operation at The
Palms near Gympie QLD as part of their ongoing investigation to locate a
28-year-old Pie Creek man who has been missing since December.
Joe Johnson, pictured, was last seen at a Rocks Road property in Pie Creek
on December 12, 2023 and has not been seen or heard from since.
Family and police have serious concerns for Joe’s welfare after the vehicle
he was allegedly travelling in was located abandoned in bushland off Deans
Road at The Palms recently, December 27.
Police and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have this morning,
Tuesday January 9, commenced searching bushland and creek areas in The
Palms.
The operation included SES volunteers on the ground, as well as support from
police ATVs, and ground crews.
The QPS Dive Squad and Water Police also assisted with search efforts.
Investigations indicate Joe travelled from Rocks Road in Pie Creek on the
evening of December 12 in a White Mitsubishi utility which is suspected of
being stolen from an Old Noosa Road address at Tandur on or about December
12, just before 8am.
Residents within Tandur, Pie Creek, The Palms, and surrounding areas are
urged to review their CCTV or dashcam footage from December 11, and to check
their properties.
Joe is described as Caucasian in appearance, approximately 180cm tall with a
very slim build, short brown hair, hazel eyes, and a distinctive tattoo on
the right-hand-side of his neck.
Anyone with information about Joe’s whereabouts is urged to immediately
contact police.
Gympie police are seeking public assistance to locate missing
person Joe Johnson, a 28-year-old man from Rocks Road, Pie Creek.
Joe was last seen on the evening of the December 12, 2023 leaving a Rocks
Road address in a white utility.
Police are asking resident of properties on Deans Road, Matthews Road, Minya
Close, Palm Drive, Jimbour Road, Glastonbury Road, Rocks Road, Widgee
Crossing South Road, James Dean Road, Buranda Road, Duggan Road and Jellick
Road to come forward if they have relevant CCTV footage at their property,
or if they have any information as to the whereabouts of Joe (pictured).
Officers are asking for property owners in these areas to be vigilant around
their properties and report any suspicious items including to police.
If you have
Information for police, contact Policelink by providing Information using
the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting
or call 131 444.
Report crime Information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call
1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
A major bushland search has been launched to try to find a man who
disappeared nearly a month ago.
Combing through dense and isolated terrain in The Palms, police and
State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers searched for any sign of the
28-year-old today.
Some officers scoured the ground while others were on ATVs, and the
police dive squad and water police searched waterways.
"There's lots of trees as you can see ... logs and a fair few rocks.
Steep terrain, it's pretty heavy going," Graeme Kahler, a volunteer
searching on horseback, said.
Initial investigations indicate Johnson left the family event in Pie
Creek on the night of December 12 in a white Mitsubishi ute.
It's thought the vehicle was stolen from the nearby suburb of Tandur
that morning, around 8am.
On December 27 the abandoned ute was discovered, but there was no trace
of Johnson. He's not been seen or heard from.
"He could very well be maintaining himself in this environment,"
Inspector Brad Inskip said today.
"It's my understanding Joe's had a bit of experience with camping and
spent time in the bush," he added.
He is described as Caucasian in appearance, approximately 180cm tall
with a very slim build, short brown hair, hazel eyes, and a distinctive
tattoo on the right-hand-side of his neck.
The search will resume tomorrow.
