Chilling surveillance footage captured the last known moments of a 70-year-old fisherman before he disappeared after heading out onto the water.
Tito C. Montances vanished Tuesday afternoon, triggering an urgent search involving local police and the U.S. Coast Guard.
According to the Hercules Police Department, Montances was last seen around 1:30 p.m. near Pinole Shores. Video from the area showed him getting ready to launch a green, single-person canoe before he went missing.
Authorities described Montances as 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a navy blue jacket, light-colored shorts and black shoes.
Police said his vehicle was later discovered parked at 1 Tennent Ave. in Pinole, near the wastewater treatment plant, after relatives reported Tuesday night that he had not come home.
The search began Tuesday evening following his disappearance during the boating trip. Hercules police and the East Bay Regional Park District used drones to sweep the shoreline, but officials said the initial effort did not find him. The U.S. Coast Guard has since taken the lead in the search, using air and water resources across San Pablo Bay.
Investigators are asking people who live or spend time near the shoreline and nearby areas to watch for Montances or his green canoe and to report any possible sightings right away.
Anyone with information is urged to call Hercules Police Department dispatch at (510) 724-1111 or the U.S. Coast Guard at (415) 399-7300.
