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DICKINSON, N.Y. (WHCU) – A homeless man has been reunited with his family thanks to officials in Broome County.
Authorities say Earl Sutton was living at a bus stop at the intersection of Front Street and Old Front Street in the Town of Dickinson for several months. Sutton had refused any assistance or public services, despite having access to and eligibility for those services.
“We had all spoken with Earl and tried to get him to seek the help he needed, but at the time, Earl was not interested,” said Broome County Sheriff Fred Ashkar. “We were running out of options, but living at a bus stop is not an acceptable solution for anyone, especially as the weather begins to turn cold.”
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office along with the Department of Social Services was able to find Sutton’s uncle, James, in Toledo, Ohio, where Earl had been reported missing for two years.
“My family is grateful and so happy he’s been found,” said James Sutton. “Earl had a bike accident that left him in a challenging mental state. He had stopped taking his medication and disappeared. For two years, no one knew where he was. We thought he might be dead.”
James Sutton traveled from Ohio to Dickinson on Friday to reunite with Earl and bring him home.