The search continues this morning (Monday) for a missing man.

Hertford County Emergency Management Director Chris Smith told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald that the 77-year-old man was reported missing around 4 p.m. Sunday. From that point forward, members of local fire departments along with law enforcement personnel from several agencies conducted ground searches in an area west of St. John along NC 561.

At some point during the search, an ATV, believed to belong to the missing man, was discovered in a path.

“The discovery of the ATV helped us narrow the search area,” said Smith. “However, the area we are currently searching is a fairly large wooded tract.”

The North Carolina Highway Patrol sent in a helicopter on Sunday to aid in the search. Smith said the copter is expected to return this morning.

Additionally, tracking dogs from Caledonia Prison were used on Sunday. Smith said NC PERT (Prison Emergency Response Team), a highly skilled unit trained in searching for escaped inmates, was excepted to send 60 individual today to assist in the search.

Smith said the missing man, whose name was not released, has suffered a couple of strokes in the past and also suffers from dementia.

The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald will have more on this story as information is made available.