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PILOT MOUNTAIN — A Pilot Mountain man who was missing for just more than 16 hours was found by area residents just after 1 p.m. Tuesday.

About 9 p.m. Monday, search crews with the Pilot Mountain Rescue Squad and Pilot Mountain Police Department began searching for Larry Junior Holder, 49, who went missing from 800 Dodson Mill Road, Apartment 7.

After a community alert system was released within a three-mile radius of Holder’s apartment, residents at 1139 Dodson Mill Road, on the west side of U.S. 52, saw Holder walking around in their backyard and called emergency officials, reported Emergency Services Director John Shelton.

He said Holder was in far condition and was transported to Northern Hospital of Surry County for assessment.

According to a silver alert issued by the police department, officers believe he was suffering from dementia or some other cognitive impairment as well as a medical condition which may be detrimental to his health.

According to Shelton, Holder knocked on a neighbor’s door after dark Monday night. The resident answered the door and threatened to call the police, which Shelton believes scared Holder and caused him to run. His bike was found abandoned nearby.

This is not the first time Holder had disappeared from his residence or the medical facility he was in prior to coming to Surry County. In the past, he was found up to two miles away.

Police and rescue searched for Holder until 3 a.m. and resumed the search at sunlight Tuesday.

Tuesday morning, fire departments and rescue squads from across Surry County and western Stokes County were dispatched to respond to Pilot Mountain in four- to five-man teams to look for Holder in a three-mile radius around his residence. Shelton reported that about 80 personnel assisted in the search.

All volunteer fire departments and rescue squads in the county sent at least one team from each department to assist with the search and rescue efforts.