Missing man possibly swept away by flash flood in North Texas – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

A North Texas family is searching for a man who was last seen near a creek in Garland before a heavy rainstorm.

It’s been three days since she last saw her boyfriend near Garland Creek, but for Stacy Simpson it’s as if time has stood still.

“First it was drizzling. Then it got heavier. The ground was already saturated, so the culvert filled up much faster,” Simpson said.

As a heavy downpour rolled in Saturday afternoon, Simpson was looking for shelter nearby. She says 50-year-old Gerrad Kelley stayed behind near Pleasant Valley Road and Shalimar Drive.

“I was there for five or 10 minutes and then came back. That’s when I took the video. The water was higher than I’ve ever seen it,” she said.

Only at that moment did she realize that although Kelley was gone, his bike and shoes remained behind.

“I just don’t want to think about him out here. I just don’t know where he is,” Simpson said.

Garland police said Saturday that officers had conducted a thorough search of the area using helicopters and drones.

Days later, the creek is calm again. Friends help Simpson continue the search downstream, where she fears the flood has swept away her partner of eight years.

“I love him so much,” she said.

The family describes Kelley as 5’6″ tall and weighing about 175 pounds. He has brown hair, a gray beard and tattoos on his fingers and wrist.

While Simpson waits for authorities to do more, she says she is not giving up.

“We’ll just keep looking until we find him,” Simpson said.

Kelley was last seen wearing black shorts and a gray “army” t-shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to call Garland Police.