PORTLAND — Dive teams from local police departments suspended their search Monday night for a missing fisherman they suspect may have fallen into Portland Harbor.
Nicole Clegg, the city's spokeswoman, identified the fisherman as 66-year-old George Manning.
Manning, who works and lives on the groundfishing vessel Northstar, was last seen around 4:30 a.m. Monday walking down Custom House Wharf toward the vessel, which was docked at the end of the wharf.
Portland police are concerned about his well-being because Manning left his cellphone and wallet on board the Northstar and has not been in contact with his fellow crewmembers or friends.
Authorities said Manning was reported missing by his employer. Vincent Balzano, the owner of the Northstar, said he has not seen Manning since Friday. Manning has been a seasonal deckhand on Northstar for the past 18 years, Balzano said.
Balzano described Manning as a "happy-go-lucky" guy who is well known on the city's waterfront.
"He's like the mayor of Commercial Street," Balzano said.
Divers from Portland and South Portland spent most of Monday searching the harbor around Custom House Wharf before the search was called off about 5:30 p.m.
The search will resume Tuesday morning, Portland police Lt. Gary Hutcheson said. "The divers can't do anything at night," he said.
Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald>>
