Search continues for missing child in James River

HUTCHINSON COUNTY, SD (KELO) — The search continues for a child reported missing in the James River Tuesday evening in Hutchinson County's Tschetter Colony. Tschetter is a Hutterite colony.

“A search and rescue operation is being conducted by the Canadian Hutterite Emergency Water Response Team (HEART), which specializes in sonar water search and recovery,” said the Hutchinson County Sheriff , Maurice Waltner, at KELOLAND News. “Game, Fish and Parks and several county emergency management departments are also assisting in the search.”

HEART uses state-of-the-art equipment to search and recover drowning victims and is conducted by a highly trained dive team.

Waltner provided no details about the child's age or gender.

Ty Balvin told KELOLAND News Tuesday evening that he could see a large law enforcement presence near the river from his farm in the area. The search began around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and Balvin said the search was happening just off Highway 44.

The search location is approximately 18 miles northwest of Freeman.

This is a developing story and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.