COPALIS CROSSING — Volunteers this week continue to search for a missing Quinault elder who was last seen Oct. 4.
Jerry Harvey Hyasman, also known as Jerry Pies, was believed to have gone mushroom picking near Copalis Crossing in Grays Harbor County, according to an emergency notice issued Monday.
Hyasman, 56, is described as being 5-foot-7, about 180 pounds with short gray hair, a synthetic left eye, a tribal tattoo on his arm and a stocky build.
He was last seen wearing a dark-colored rain jacket, a dark-blue sweater, jeans and rubber boots, according to The (Aberdeen) Daily World.
The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office launched an extensive search and rescue operation after Hyasman’s disappearance, Undersheriff David Pimentel said Tuesday.
About 65 people, including members of the Quinault and other tribes, were looking for Hyasman each day, Pimentel said.
The search was called off at 5 p.m. Friday.
The Sheriff’s Office had no leads as of Tuesday, Pimentel said.
A small group of volunteers has continued to look for Hyasman and has maintained contact with local and tribal law enforcement officials, according to the emergency notice from the tribe.
The Quinault Nation Business Committee is offering a $2,500 reward for information that would lead to the solving of the disappearance.
“The Quinault [Business Committee] believes the reward is necessary as foul play has not been ruled out,” according to the notice.
Pimentel confirmed that foul play had not been ruled out.
He added: “At this point, we don’t have any reason to believe it was foul play.”
While Quinault police do not have jurisdiction in the case, the tribe is providing food, volunteers, staff and a search helicopter to other agencies.
Quinault police are working with the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office to conduct an accurate and thorough fact-finding investigation, officials said.
“Quinault Police Chief Mark James encourages anyone who knows anything to call or stop by the police department immediately,” the notice said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to phone the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office at 360-249-3711 or the Taholah Police Department at 360-276-4423.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
