Searchers Find Man Attempting Suicide

Police officers and tracking dogs searched nearly two hours for a missing man Thursday before finding him attempting suicide behind Memorial Field.

John Emmel, 46, left his Sandpoint home about 7:45 a.m. A family member reported him missing after finding a suicide note. Authorities searched several areas in the city and called in tracking dogs to try to locate him.

A city worker spotted Emmel about 10 a.m. sitting on the bank of the Pend Oreille River behind Memorial Field. Police Chief Bill Kice said an officer noticed Emmel was wet and bleeding and called an ambulance.

The man apparently tried to kill himself by slashing his neck and wrists with a razor blade. He had also hit himself in the head with a rock and walked into the river, Kice said.

Emmel was taken to Bonner General Hospital where he underwent surgery. He was listed in fair condition.