Coast Guard searches for missing canoeist

Price due in court on Monday for child porn charges

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office booking photo of John Price

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a 49-year-old man who hasn't been heard from since calling 911 Friday morning, reporting a shoulder injury while canoeing near the State Road 206 bridge.

John Price called the St. Johns County 911 at 6:35 a.m. to report an accident and his injury. Before more information could be gathered about his whereabouts or condition the 911 operator lost contact with him.

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The Coast Guard and local response agencies are searching the Intracoastal Waterway from St. Augustine to Matanzas River as well as the St. Johns River from the Buckman Bridge to Palatka.

St. Johns County deputies said at this time there is no evidence of foul play.

Price is described as a white man, 6 feet 1 inch tall and 240 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes.

Price was the subject of a two-month investigation between the Sheriff's Office Special Victims' Unit and the FBI last summer. He was arrested on 50 counts of child pornography on Sept. 26, 2013 and was released four days later after posting $255,000 bond. He is scheduled for a court appearance on those charges on Monday, Oct. 6.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Price is urged to call the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Command Center at 904-564-7511 or St. Johns County Detective Matthew Bellamy at 904-209-1635.

To remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at 1-888-277-8477.