Man missing in Reservoir

Divers with the Ridgeland Fire Department are assisting the Reservoir Patrol in a multi-agency search for a Brandon man who drowned on the Rankin County side of the Reservoir on Sunday.

Fire Chief Matt Bailey said that they received the call shortly after the incident happened around noon on Sunday. He has had divers out on the water every day since Sunday.

The victim has been identified as 32-year-old Justin Perkins.

"We have been out there," Bailey said. "The body remains undiscovered."

Bailey said that the water was choppy on Sunday and that the father had jumped in to get one of his children back on the boat. Bailey said he saved his child but was not wearing a life preserver and never resurfaced.

"This is sad on all ends and we are praying for the family and hope they can make it through this difficult time," Bailey said. "We know they want closure and we are working hard and staying diligent."

Bailey said they have been doing scans of the area where the incident happened.

"There is almost zero visibility down there and it was out in an open area," Bailey said. "We can scan the area with our equipment but sometimes what we find is a log or something else."