The search for 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell, who disappeared in Ballymena, County Antrim, on 3 June, continues. Mitchell was last seen on CCTV footage in the town centre during the early hours of the morning, before heading towards James Street. She was wearing a green and black North Face-style jacket, a white T-shirt, leggings and Nike trainers. A 26-year-old man has been arrested at an address in Lurgan, Co Armagh, and is currently helping with police investigations. Community Search and Rescue teams, as well as K9 Search and Rescue, began searching around the River Braid on 8 June. Police directed the rescuers to the Castle Gardens area of Ballymena, which had an embankment with an 18ft drop. Darren Harper, Community Rescue Service district commander, said that the search was “just a continuation on from the search areas yesterday, just eliminating the areas that Chloe may not be in”.
Ground teams have been searching areas around the river as well as around a property in James Street, which had been cordoned off by police. Harper said the teams were still hoping to find Mitchell. “Ground teams again, we’re searching for Chloe herself. As I say, we’re just systematically searching in and around the area at the minute,” he said. Community Rescue Service regional commander Sean McCarry said that the search on 9 June would begin with around 35 people but that the number was expected to increase throughout the day. Police knocked on doors in the search areas, asking residents if they had been at home on 8 June and if they had any CCTV at their property.
Local people have praised the efforts of the police and search and rescue operations. Rodney Quigley, an independent councillor for Ballymena warned that people should not listen to rumours relating to the case: “There’s a bit of confusion at the minute, I’ve heard different reports… I want to stress that there’s a lot of rumours going about and for people not to be listening to the rumours. Obviously, it’s a well-organised search and I feel the people just need to let search parties and the police continue with the search and investigation,” he said. Quigley added that in his discussions with local people, there was very little information as to what may have happened to Mitchell.
Community groups in Ballymena, including the Harryville Residents Association and Ballykeel and District Community Association, have also been searching for Mitchell.
