Police Release Details of Snow Rescue

WEST LONG BRANCH - In further explanation of a Jan. 4 incident in which a resident was in serious danger when trapped in the heavy snow at the golf range following the Dec. 26 storm, the West Long Branch Police released the following description of the event.

The release information is based on police recordings and activities as reported by the officers and the emergency personnel involved in the life-threatening incident.

The report from West Long Branch Police Capt. Lawrence Mihlon says that at about 4:30 p.m., on Jan. 4, West Long Branch Police Dispatcher Ryan Brand received a call from Shirley Schmitt, Monmouth Road, West Long Branch. Schmitt identified herself as being from the West Long Branch Golf Range and she said her husband had gone in the snow storm to the range to “feed the cats." 

Schmitt further explained that her husband, John Schmitt, 89, was stuck by a fence on the course. She asked for police to respond to help him to get out. 

At first Brand believed that Mrs. Schmitt was describing a situation where her husband was stuck in his vehicle in the snow.  Brand explained to her that she might get better results by calling AAA for towing assistance in recovering the vehicle from the snow.  Mrs. Schmitt then clarified that her husband was “…lying (outside his truck) on the ground.” 

After talking  further with Mrs. Schmitt, Brand realized the full extent of the situation, that Mr. Schmitt was trapped outside in the snow, not his car. The dispatcher believed he may have need of an ambulance as well as rescue assistance. Brand immediately dispatched WLB police and First Aid to the scene.

Police Sgt. Brian Kramer, driving a police SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle), responded to the dispatch and drove to the golf course area and began a search for Mr. Schmitt.  The snow in the area was so deep that Sgt. Kramer’s SUV became stuck, and required him to call for a tow truck.  Patrolman Jason Buono then responded to the area and took over the search for Schmitt. 

During the search, Brand called Mrs. Schmitt several times, attempting to get more accurate information as to where she believed her husband might be.

West Long Branch Police, Fire and First Aid personnel became involved in the search, with assistance from the Eatontown Police Department. 

Sgt. Kramer was able to free his vehicle from the snow before the tow truck arrived.  He and Patrolman Buono proceeded to Old Orchard Country Club in Eatontown and resumed the search for Schmitt by leaving their vehicles and walking south toward the Golf Range. 

Kramer and Buono made their way through waist high snow drifts south toward the Golf Range near Highway 36, a significant distance under the circumstances.  At one point, Sgt. Kramer, Buono and a member of the First Aid Squad had to scale a chain link fence in order to gain access to the Golf Range itself.

Mr. Schmitt was found lying down in a treed area between the golf range and the rear access road of Shop Rite Supermarket on pieces of wood, believed to have been provided by Shop Rite employees who had heard his cries for help.  The rear of the ShopRite is near the range.

Mr. Schmitt had been in the snow for almost three hours. The officers assisted in wrapping him in blankets and moved snow from the areas around his feet.  They also removed brush from around Mr. Schmitt, as Sgt. Kramer requested specific fire and rescue apparatus to allow personnel to gain access to him. 

Emergency personnel had to use a K-12 saw in order to cut a hole in the metal chain link fence to gain access to Schmitt.  It was necessary for Patrolman Buono to shield Mr. Schmitt from sparks and hot debris with his body. 

Once emergency crews were able to get the apparatus in place to remove Mr. Schmitt, he was freed and carried out by the officers, fire and first aid personnel over high banks of snow to the waiting ambulance. From there, Mr. Schmitt was taken toMonmouth Medical Center by the West Long Branch First Aid Squad.

Capt. Mihlon said after reviewing the case that Sgt. Kramer, Patrolman Buono and Brand worked properly, responsibly and diligently to locate and rescue Mr. Schmitt, as did the emergency personnel of fire department and first aid squad. 

“I am sure that the stress of knowing that her husband was lost or trapped in the snow was very upsetting to Mrs. Schmitt, and undoubtedly affected her recall of her conversation with our dispatcher and the timing of what happened afterwards," Capt. Mihlon said. “Our department and the other emergency service personnel were just glad we were able to help them get through this ordeal."