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Authorities search for Cary man missing at Jordan Lake

Chatham County authorities were searching Thursday evening for Tommie Columbus Justice Jr., 69, of Cary, who was reported missing after kayaking on Jordan Lake

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CHATHAM COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities were searching Thursday evening for Tommie Columbus Justice Jr., 69, of Cary, who was reported missing after kayaking on Jordan Lake.

A spokeswoman with Chatham County said Justice was last seen about 12:20 p.m. A witnesses reported a kayak upside down in the water, and the vessel was later identified as belonging to Justice.

"One of the biggest challenges was a point last known, not knowing exactly where the subject was at," said North Chatham Fire Chief John Strowd. "We're covering a large area of water, and we're basically using sonar equipment to do that. It's back-and-forth, a lot of debris on the bottom of the Lake, and it's hard to see."

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office, Wake County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North Chatham Fire Department, state and county emergency management officials, the North Carolina Wildlife Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were searching the area around the Farrington Point boat ramp.

Authorities canceled the search at 8 p.m. Thursday night and said rescue efforts would resume Friday at 8 a.m.

Justice was wearing black shorts and a striped tank shirt.

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