By Carol McCracken (Post # 2,470)
The Maine Marine Patrol has resumed the search for missing Captain Adam Patterson, Cape Elizabeth, today according to Jeff Nichols, of the US Maine Marine Patrol. Captain Patterson, 30, is an employee of the Portland-based water taxi service Portland Express Taxi. The taxi service is located on the waterfront between Flatbread and the Casco Bay Municipal Ferry Terminal.
Marine Patrol was notified that Patterson was missing at 9 am Wednesday (yesterday) and conducted a search from shore between Portland and Yarmouth, Phippsburg and Harpswell Sound and South Portand and the Kennebunk River. Marine Patrol also conducted a search by water yesterday of Casco Bay.
The search resumed this morning at 6:00 am. by the Maine Marie Patrol. It will be using two different water vessels and an airplane. The vessels will search aggressively between Portland and Seguin Island and from Portland to Harpswell for the 24 foot white vessel with a 150 horse power Yamaha outboard motor which Patterson operated for Portland Express Taxi.
A Marine Patrol Protector vessel along with the Patrol Vessel Vigilant are involved in today’s search along with airplanes operated by the Marine Patrol and the US Coast Guard.
The Marine Patrol investigation revealed that Mr. Patterson was last heard from during a conversation with a family member Wednesday morning at approximately 1:30 am.
An employee of the water taxi company determined that the vessel Patterson regularly operated for the company was missing at approximately 5:50 am Wednesday.
A review by Marine Patrol of security camera footage owned by DiMillo’s Marina shows Mr. Paterson leaving in the vessel at 3:25 am Wednesday.
According to Marine Patrol reports, both of Mr.Patterson’s cell phones were found aboard a sail boat docked on Long Wharf in Portland which he had been staying on for about ten days. Mr. Patterson’s vehicle was also found parked in DiMillo’s parking lot.
Kyle Jacobs, a co-worker at Portland Express Taxi, stated that he was the last operator of the missing water taxi which he secured at around 11:00 pm Tuesday with an estimated 30 gallons of gas on board.
Involved in today’s search are Marine Patrol Sergeant Rob Beal, Sergeant Tom Hale, Officer Chris Hilton, Officer Clinton Thomson, Officer Charles Tetreau and Officer Rebecca Kavanaugh.
The US Coast Guard and the Portland Police Department are also assisting in the search.