Perry, Mich., native reported missing after fishing trip in Oscoda Township

MONDAY, July 28 — A man with longtime ties to the Greater Lansing area has been reported missing after a fishing trip in northern Michigan, according to an Oscoda Township Police Department press release.

Leslie “Les” Lewis Brown, 44, a former Perry, Michigan, resident and a graduate of Perry High School, was reportedly last seen on or around July 12 while fishing with a companion near his home along Van Ettan Creek in Oscoda Township, the release stated.

While the exact timeline of his disappearance remains unclear, police say he was reported missing on July 19 by his long-time girlfriend after she returned from a trip downstate and found he had not returned from his fishing trip the week before. The couple previously lived in Perry but had moved to Oscoda in June, just weeks before his disappearance, according to police.

Brown is described as a white male, 6 feet, 1 inch tall, weighing approximately 235 pounds, with short dark brown hair and a beard.

The Oscoda Township Police Department has conducted a week-long search for Brown in the area where he was last seen, using drone aircraft from All County Search and Rescue, watercraft from the Department of Natural Resources, search dogs and crews of volunteers on foot.”

According to Oscoda Township Police Sergeant Curtis Hall, this candid photo is a still from surveillance footage showing the last confirmed sighting. However, the police cannot share any additional information about the photo at this time, as the investigation “remains open and active.”

“As of right now, it [the photo] is the last time we’ve confirmed he was seen, and it is what we believe is the best information on how he was dressed/appeared before he disappeared,” Oscoda Township Police Sergeant Curtis Hall said via email. “For the time being, we’re withholding the date, time and location of the photo for investigative purposes.”

The Oscoda Township Police are being assisted by the Michigan State Police, the Department of Natural Resources, the Perry Police Department, the Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office and the Flint Police Department.

Anyone with information about Les Brown’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Oscoda Township Police Department at (989) 739-9112 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP (1-800-773-2587).