Police locate missing La Plata teenager

Multiple police agencies mobilized Tuesday to find a missing teenager in Charles County.

La Plata’s Police Department sent out a critical missing person alert the morning of April 23, saying that 18-year-old Gernard McCormick, a La Plata High School student, was missing.

The initial post, made around 8 a.m., said that he was believed to be wearing a black jacket, gray sweatpants and gray shoes.

At 9:55 a.m., the police department once again sent an update saying that McCormick was around 6-foot, 3-inches tall and was last seen at approximately 7 a.m. in the Agricopia community.

McCormick was still missing around 12:30 p.m., prompting officers and resources from four different agencies to be deployed, including blood hounds from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Prince George’s County Police Department.

Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 2 assisted with an aerial search that was supplemented by the Charles sheriff's office and La Plata police drones.

Officers from La Plata’s Police Department and the county conducted ground searches on ATVs and cruisers.

Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling (D) went to Facebook asking for everyone to share the alert, saying that his daughter was friends with the missing man.

At 3:15 p.m., the La Plata Police Department shared on Facebook that they had located McCormick and was reunited with his family.

La Plata’s Chief of Police updated the Town Council on the incident during his monthly report on April 23 and referenced the Beatles, saying that they got through the day with “a little help from my friends.”