Richmond Police shut down Gravel Pit Road on the city's east side Monday afternoon while officers combed a wooded area for a man they have not been able to locate, asking drivers and nearby residents to steer clear of the road until further notice. The search unfolded near Interstate 70 and U.S. 40, a stretch of the city where Gravel Pit Road connects to key highway corridors.
According to the Richmond Police Department, the man is described as white, in his mid-20s, with bushy hair. He was last seen wearing a red jacket, a gray windbreaker, gray pants, and gray shoes in the wooded area east of Gravel Pit Road, and investigators say he was last seen heading in an unknown direction. Police have not said what prompted officers to begin looking for him.
Gravel Pit Road itself is more than just a quiet cut-through. Wayne County set up a dedicated fund in February to accept state Community Crossings grant money for a Gravel Pit Road bridge rehabilitation project, according to Western Wayne News. The city's public works listings also show the road was previously resurfaced along the stretch running from U.S. 40 to the city limits, per City of Richmond records, underscoring why even a temporary closure disrupts local travel between the highway and nearby township borders.
Police Urge Caution, Not Contact
Richmond Police are asking residents in the area to remain alert but not to approach the man if spotted. Anyone who sees someone matching his description is asked to contact the department or 911 immediately, providing the person's location and direction of travel.
Why The Search Matters Locally
The city's police and county deputies routinely work together on active incidents; the Wayne County Sheriff's Office logged 37,047 calls for service in 2025. Statewide, the Indiana State Police have recorded more than 1,100 active missing persons cases, a backdrop that helps explain why departments like Richmond's regularly turn to public advisories to enlist help from residents during active searches.
The department says it will release additional information as it becomes available, including word on when Gravel Pit Road reopens to traffic. It is the latest in a string of public appeals from Richmond Police this year — the department previously sought help finding a missing man named David Darling in September. Why police began searching for the man near Gravel Pit Road, and whether any outstanding warrants or investigations are connected to the search, remains unknown.
