Pope sheriff still investigating mystery car

Sheriff Jerry Suits states that there is no new information about the car found in One Horse Gap Lake the same weekend that Kyle Brown was found in the lake.

"We are still looking into it," Suit's said. "We are not releasing any information on the make or model at this point, our investigation is continuing."

Brown's sports utility vehicle was found in One Horse Gap Lake in April with his body inside. He had been missing from his Harrisburg home since Dec. 28. No foul play is suspected. Another vehicle was also found in the same location by the private search company that found Brown. The second vehicle was not a SUV and had no license plates, insurance or other information inside. The vehicle was unoccupied. The sheriff is still surprised at finding two cars in One Horse Gap Lake.

"We have stolen cars abandoned in our county fairly often, but this was unusual," Suits stated. "I can only remember three other vehicle found in lakes or ponds in Pope County since I have been Sheriff."

Suits added that he has stepped up patrols of the area and has a deputy through the Shawnee National Forest sites in the county at least every other day, if not every day. Suits also stated that, as we enter the summer season, his office responds to a larger number of calls at the U.S. Forest Service sites.

"We had a young man lost at Burden Falls last weekend," Suits said. "And we had an older man fall and break his ankle there two weekends ago. We are entering our peak time of the year for rescue related calls."

Suits said that this is one of the requirements of policing in Pope county and he and his deputies were ready to answer rescue calls and assist the forest service at any time.

"One of the things required of our department," Suits said.