Police searching for C-Falls man missing in North Dakota

Williston, N.D. — Williston police are asking for the public’s help finding a 29-year-old man who was last heard from early Wednesday morning.

Brandon Barnes, formerly of Columbia Falls, was reported missing Thursday morning, according to Sgt. Detective Danielle Hendricks of the Williston Police Department. He was seen by a neighbor in his apartment complex around 1 a.m. Wednesday and had a phone conversation with a friend around the same time.

His truck, a black 2009 Ford F-350 with Montana license plate BKP 580, is gone, and police believe he might be driving it. An alert to police about Barnes and the truck has been sent out statewide, Hendricks said, and Barnes has been entered into a national police database as missing.

“Definitely from the information we’ve received it is not normal (for him),” Hendricks said of Barnes being out of contact with friends and family.

Barnes is about 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, has brown hair and blue eyes.

Barnes attended Columbia Falls High School and was working as a wireline operator in Williston, according to his Facebook page.

Kara Krause. Barnes’ mother, said she heard from the wife of one of Barnes’ co-workers Wednesday evening saying he hadn’t been to work. Wednesday was Krause’s birthday and she hadn’t heard from him.

“I thought it was odd,” Krause said, adding that she and Barnes talked regularly.

The report he hadn’t been to work, along with him being out of touch, have her worried, as do other details.

“The boots that (Barnes) always wears are still inside the apartment,” she said.

Also, Krause said, calls to Barnes’ phone are going straight to voicemail.

Barnes’ dog was spotted running loose behind his apartment complex by a neighbor around 10 a.m. Wednesday. The neighbor called police and the dog was taken to the pound.

The dog being loose also has Krause concerned.

“The dog never leaves his side, ever, ever, except when he’s at work,” she said.

Williston officers and Williams County Sheriff deputies were searching for Barnes, Hendricks said. Police have started the process of trying to trace his phone.

“Because it is out of character, safety is a concern for us,” she said.

Police are asking anyone with information about Barnes’ whereabouts or anyone who sees Barnes or his truck to call the Williston Police Department at 701-572-1212.