Search for bridge jumper halted

After two full days of searching the Mississippi River, the Missouri Water Patrol stopped for the weekend its search for the body of a man reported to have jumped from the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge Wednesday afternoon.

Assistant fire chief Mark Hasheider said he is uncertain if the patrol will resume its search Monday.

Cpl. Ike Hammonds of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said that the police have received no new information on the incident. There is still only one witness and no one has been reported missing, he said.

Hasheider has asked that anyone who was crossing the river around the time the man reportedly was on the bridge to contact the police.

"With this bridge we have noticed an increase in pedestrian traffic," Hasheider said. "Someone may not have noticed or thought nothing was out of place. If during that time period someone noticed someone walking on the bridge, please contact the police department with a description or additional information that might be helpful."