This story has been updated to include new information.
The search for a man last seen in Juneau on Friday will transition to a missing person case, police said, as the Alaska State Troopers terminate active searching until better information is found.
Joseph Clayton, 48, is a nonresident of Juneau, and is unfamiliar with the area or the trail system, according to Juneau Police Department.
Clayton was last seen on Friday morning, and reportedly had plans to hike Perseverance Trail, according to police. His vehicle was later located at the Auke Lake Boat Launch. Clayton did not have his cellphone when he left.
Clayton, who responds to Joe, is 6 foot 2, estimated to weigh 220 pounds, and was last seen in a T-shirt and jeans, according to police.
A search involving the Juneau Police Department, Southeast Alaska Dogs Organized for Ground Search, and the troopers have checked trails and roadways, as well as following up possible sightings of Clayton in the Mendenhall Valley, according to police. The case will continue as a missing person case.
Family members are continuing the search, according to police. Family members asked anyone who sees Clayton to call him Joe, as he may not respond to Joseph and to approach him slowly, as rushing up may startle Clayton.
The family is currently offering a reward of $5,000 for anyone who finds Clayton alive, said Clayton’s sister, Hannah Clayton. Anyone with information or wishing to assist with the search is asked to call Hannah Clayton at 469-285-1225 or Michelle Lyman at 503-285-4006.
If someone sees Clayton or has information on his whereabouts, they can call Juneau Police Department at (907) 586-0600. If anyone sees Clayton, police said, they should attempt to keep him in visual range until the police can arrive and verify his identity.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
