Citizens cover ground in search for Daniel

BRECKENRIDGE - With a rare urban search on their hands, the Summit Rescue Group looked to a community for manpower.

And they found it - in more than 140 volunteers, some unlikely candidates for a more extreme operation, but easily placeable when they talk about their connections with Royal "Scoop" Daniel III. All five citizens of Team 4 (out of 18) met Daniel through various community organizations, and all repeat phrases like "You know if there were trouble, he would be there for you."

Daniel dealt with immigration law cases in his law practice, and was active in the jail ministry at his church. His deep knowledge of music was discussed more than once on the walk, as was his yearly attendance at Town Clean-up Day.

On the way up Wellington Road, the group was instructed to look for evidence, things like clothing, weapons or strange footprints. Team leaders Heather Swenson and Chris Delnero, both from the Alpine Rescue Group out of Jefferson County, carried GPS receivers to record coordinates in case a clue was found.

Delnero also brought the hope of experience: "Generally these mass searches are very successful," he said. "But we've never done anything like this before."

At one point a ski glove with a missing thumb was spotted, but in a resort town, that was ruled an unsuspicious item.

After a couple of on-pavement miles down Royal Tiger Road and with no out-of-the-ordinary sights, Team Four trudged out of the residential area and onto a trail. Procedure dictated that the group stay off private property, so perimeters were hugged.

In all, the search distance totaled 4 miles, and Team 4 - like every other team returned to the transit station with no new evidence.

- Lindsey Krusen