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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Multiple agencies conducted a frantic, days-long search for a man who went missing in the Wolf River after a heroic act turned tragic. Search operations occurred Friday and Saturday. As of 8 a.m. Sunday morning, the rescue efforts continued.

Officials said 31-year-old Thaddeus Smiley was trying to rescue a young child when he was swept away.

According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, 11 people were hanging out on a sandbar in the middle of the river just before 2 p.m. Friday. A child started struggling to swim, then Smiley and another man went into the water to save the child.

The child and one of the rescuers made it back to dry land, but Smiley didn’t.

“More than 100 first responders and volunteers are involved in the search operations,” Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said.

On Sunday, the agencies involved include multiple divisions of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office including Volunteer Services Bureau, Uniform Patrol, Drone Team, Search and Rescue, and Emergency Services, as well as the Millington Fire Department Search and Rescue, Memphis Fire Department Search and Rescue, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resouces Agency (TWRA).

Six boat teams, partnering fire departments, three drone teams are deployed. TWRA are patrolling the river with three sonar teams scanning the riverbed using specialized equipment and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office dive team.

According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, 35 deputies, firefighters, and volunteers are searching over six miles of the river from Walnut Grove to the old Austin Peay overpass on Sunday.

“The current is moving at about six miles an hour, creating challenging and dangerous search conditions,” Buckner said.

Sheriff Floyd Bonner was on the scene. Partway through the search, Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley arrived.

JB Smiley told FOX13 Thaddeus Smiley is his nephew.

“Our hearts and our prayers certainly go out to Mr. Smiley, his family, and his friends,” Buckner said.

Buckner stressed the importance of teaching young people to swim and the dangers of the Wolf River.

In recent years, “secret beaches” along the riverbanks have become popular summertime destinations. According to Buckner, it can be impossible to tell whether debris is being swept under the water’s surface or whether the current will pick up and carry someone away.

“Even the most experienced swimmers can find themselves in trouble when they enter the Wolf River,” he said.

Buckner said the child Smiley was trying to rescue was not injured.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Day 3 of ongoing rescue efforts resumed on Sunday, June 1, after 31-year-old Thaddeus Smiley reportedly entered the Wolf River and did not resurface on Friday, May 30.

One person was rescued on Friday, but authorities are still actively searching for another, a spokesperson with the Memphis Fire Department (MFD) confirmed.

City Councilman JB Smiley said on social media that the missing person is his nephew and asked for prayers as the search continues.

"This afternoon, my nephew, Thaddeus Smiley, was swept away by the Wolf River," the post read. "He is still missing. Please keep my family in your prayers. Tough time for us. Thank you to all the First Responders and volunteers."

Ongoing efforts:

As of 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, search operations resumed for the search of 31-year-old Thaddeus Smiley, with the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies participating.

The following agencies were listed as participants:

Around 35 deputies, firefighters, and volunteers are actively searching over six miles of river from Walnut Grove to the old Austin Peay overpass.

As of 8 a.m. on Saturday, search operations resumed for the man who was swept away in the Wolf River while trying to save a child.

The second day's search involved a coordinated effort of multiple agencies, according to a social media post shared by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO).

The following agencies were listed as participants:

Resources deployed include three drone teams conducting aerial searches, six boat teams from the SCSO, in addition to partnering fire departments patrolling the river, and four sonar teams scanning the riverbed using specialized equipment from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Dive team.

Additionally, the Sonar Emily, a radio-controlled sonar boat, was used to inspect the river floor.

Three ground teams actively searched the riverbanks, and around 120 deputies, firefighters, and volunteers were actively engaged in the ongoing search of over 8 miles of river from Walnut Grove to the Hollywood overpass.

Initial Response:

A concentration of law enforcement and rescue workers was confirmed to be in the area of the Wolf River near Walnut Grove Road on Friday, May 30.

First responders with SCSO, along with the Memphis and Germantown fire departments, arrived at the scene at around 1:50 p.m., said SCSO Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner at a press conference.

A group of 11 family members and friends gathered at a sandbar in the river before a small child went into the water, said Buckner.

Two adult members of the group entered the river to rescue the child. One of them was successful in recovering that person from the water, and the other man was caught by the current.

The other man, identified as Thaddeus Smiley, was swept downstream. He was last seen wearing blue shorts, according to Buckner.

At the time of speaking, Buckner said the river was likely moving at around 6 mph.

Six boats, five sonar-equipped teams, three drones, and a specialized dive team were all deployed in the search.

The search area on Friday spanned about a one-mile radius of where Smiley went missing.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A local immigration attorney reported that at least eight people were arrested while attending immigration court hearings in Downtown Memphis Thursday.

Until a few months ago, this kind of enforcement was not allowed. In January, though, restrictions on where agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can and can’t conduct raids were rolled back.

Immigration attorney Andrew Rankin told FOX13 ICE agents spent hours in the courthouse, arresting people who showed up to their court dates.

RELATED: Memphis journalist recalls spending over a year in ICE custody

"So, these are non-citizens who have had actual court hearings, whether it’s a preliminary hearing or a trial," Rankin said. "And they are being arrested literally outside the courtroom, in the hallway or at the elevator right by the exit."

Rankin said that enforcement has created a complicated situation for his clients; if they don’t show up to a court date, they will surely be arrested. Now, there’s a chance they’ll be arrested even if they show up.

"The best thing that I can do with my clients is strategize about what happens post-detention," he said. Rankin said immigration enforcement has been picking up for months, and he expects it to continue.

RELATED: TACOnganas employees arrested by ICE agents in labor trafficking operation, DHS says

Memphis made national headlines in February when ICE agents were caught on camera arresting employees at a TacoNGanas food truck. Since then, some Mid-South students faced turmoil when they had their international student visas revoked, only to later have them reinstated.

Earlier this month, 94 people were detained during a joint effort between ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol in Nashville.

"You can change the logistical maneuvers all you want, but they have one common thread," Rankin said. "It is enforcement against both regular and irregular migration. I don’t see that stopping. In fact, I see it continuing to worsen against both classes of people."

RELATED: Advocates rally against proposed immigration legislation

ICE operations at courthouses have been reported around the country in recent days. Rankin told FOX13 what happens at Memphis Immigration Court affects tens of thousands of people because it handles cases from Arkansas, Tennessee and parts of Mississippi and Kentucky.

"It's very concerning if the court itself is a participant in this, when the court is supposed to be an impartial place where justice is done," he said.

FOX13 reached out to the court Monday evening and has not yet heard back.

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Newest Restaurant Report Card | If you want the latest Shelby County restaurant scores sent directly to your inbox, sign up for it today on WREG’s Newsletter here.

Each week WREG is rounding up the highest and lowest scores from Shelby County restaurant inspections. Find more restaurant scores from Shelby County and other Tennessee counties here.

Lowest Scores:

Noodles Asian Bistro7850 Poplar Avenue, Suite #30 Memphis, TN 38138Score: 77Violations include: Moldy lemon inside Coca-Cola cooler; black build-up on ice dispenser and drink nozzles; package of edamame touching noodles; prep coolers are not maintaining 41 degrees; uncovered chips and dry noodles under rice warmer; uncovered food in reach in the cooler next to the rice cookers; grease build-up present on venthood; food build-up on sink, rice warmers, hot holding wells, and fryers; chemicals stored on floor under dishwasher; and wiping cloths improperly stored on cooking line. Full report

Dixie Queen3141 Austin Peay Hwy. Memphis, TN 38128Score: 77Violations include: Male employee with very long hair preparing food without hair restraint; inoperable prep cooler; dirty soda dispenser nozzles, dirty cabinet handles, and dirty kitchen equipment; foul odor coming from floor drain; uncovered flour inside storage cabinets; dirty tongs stored inside hand sink; female employee wearing a nose ring; single service cups stored on floor; damaged ceiling near back exit door from rain water on roof; and dirty floor, walls, ceiling, and venthood. Full report

Perkins American Food Co.3455 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38111Score: 79Violations include: Gnats present; uncovered food; dishes are not covered or face down to prevent contamination; cutting boards are discolored and have excess indentations present; microwaves have chipping present; residue in ovens; water is collected and excessive frost is present in cooler; hot water does not work in women’s restroom; residue is present on toilet seats in women’s restroom; men’s soap dispencer is broken; residue is present on floor tiles under equipment, venthood, and light covers; and dumpster’s plug is missing. Full report

Number One Chinese Kitchen1219 Getwell Road Memphis, TN 38111Score: 83Violations include: Flies in the kitchen area; a box of chicken sitting on the floor in the kitchen; uncovered cookies sitting on a storage shelf; improper labeling of food bins in the walk-in refrigerator; employees not wearing hair restraints; cups for dipping sitting in the flour and sugar bins; utensils sitting all over the kitchen equipment; cutting boards are stained and bruised; kitchen very dirty and equipment needs cleaning; grease build-ip on venthood; stained light fixtures; and dirty vents. Full report

One & Only BBQ1779 Kirby Parkway, Suite #1A Memphis, TN 38138Score: 84Violations include: Raw chicken stored touching metal pans of baked beans; pink build-up in the ice machine; soup containers used as scoops in dry rub containers; and dust build-up is present around the ceiling vent. Full report

Jason’s Deli3473 Poplar Ave., Suite #102 Memphis, TN 38111Score: 85Violations include: Pink and black slime inside the ice machine; gnats present; uncovered food; walk-in freezers do not properly close; food containers stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler; excessive residue in the bread oven; discolored cutting boards; and water is collected on the floors. Full report

Memphis Whistle Restaurant2299 Young Avenue Memphis, TN 38104Score: 85Violations include: Excessive gnats in the kitchen; dirty refrigerator; deep grooves in cutting boards; walls and ceiling need to be deep cleaned; excessive clutter found throughout the kitchen space; and no dates on food items in the reach-in coolers. Full report

100s

Chickasaw Men’s Grill, 3395 Galloway Avenue, Memphis, TN 38122Brendalay Grill Restaurant, 6259 Quintard Street, Arlington, TN 38002Club Windward, 3740 Canada Road, Arlington, TN 38002Ancient Grounds Coffee Shop, 2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112

Commentary

Environmental violence is not progress, no matter how city leaders and corporate elites try to spin it

Since the announcement of Elon Musk’s xAI’s supercomputer project in Memphis, city officials — led by Mayor Paul Young — have portrayed it as a transformative investment for Memphis, an opportunity to place our city on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence and 21st-century technology.

Yet from the beginning, this project has been shrouded in secrecy, half-truths, and outright lies. The supposed economic development we were promised comes at a devastating cost to public health and environmental safety.

The facts are now painfully clear. xAI’s facility is operating with 35 massive methane gas turbines, burning fossil fuels around the clock in the heart of a historically Black, working-class neighborhood already burdened with some of the highest rates of pollution-related illness in the country. These turbines are industrial behemoths, emitting dangerous levels of formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides, which are linked to severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

When confronted with concerns over the use of gas turbines, Young falsely stated that 15 turbines were active and that the others were simply stored on-site. But independent thermal imaging done by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) proved otherwise: 33 turbines were fully operational, releasing pollutants into the air day and night.

EPA tells South Memphis residents little recourse exists to deal with toxic emissions

This industrial-scale pollution is being generated mere miles from the homes of families who have already lived through decades of environmental neglect and systemic disinvestment. The facility’s location places it in dangerous proximity to the Memphis Sand Aquifer, one of the purest and most vital sources of drinking water in the nation. Our aquifer is already under threat from past industrial activities, and this project only increases the risk of irreversible damage.

At every stage of this process, city officials have treated public concern with contempt and evasion. Public hearings have been scheduled without meaningful outreach, key environmental reports have been kept hidden from public view, and straightforward questions from community members have been met with scripted talking points rather than honest dialogue. The message from City Hall is unmistakable: this project will move forward, no matter what it costs the people of Memphis.

This is an unmistakable act of environmental violence, targeting vulnerable communities that powerful interests believe are too poor, too Black, and too politically marginalized to resist. Southwest Memphis was not chosen by accident. It was chosen because city leaders and corporate executives believed that they could steamroll opposition without consequence.

But they have miscalculated. The people of Memphis are watching, and we are not fooled.

The fight against xAI’s project is about more than just turbines and permits. It’s about the soul of our city. It’s about whether Memphis will continue to allow powerful outsiders — like billionaire Musk — to treat its communities as expendable, or whether we will demand leadership that places the health, dignity and future of its residents above corporate profit.

Memphis deserves better. We deserve leaders who tell us the truth — not after independent investigations force their hand, but from the outset. We deserve a government that places the health of its people and the sanctity of our environment above empty claims of economic progress. We deserve development that empowers communities, uplifts neighborhoods, and protects the environment that sustains us.

City officials must continue to be pressed to disclose all communications, agreements, and impact assessments related to the xAI project. xAI must immediately cease operations until it obtains the proper permits, undergoes a full environmental impact review, and proves that it can operate without jeopardizing the health and safety of Memphians.

Moreover, future projects must not be negotiated behind closed doors with billionaires and developers. They must be driven by community needs, developed transparently, and subjected to rigorous scrutiny. They must center the voices of the people who will be most affected, not exclude them until the damage is already done.

Memphis’ resilience is not in question. But resilience should never be mistaken for consent to exploitation. It does not mean quietly accepting the degradation of our air, our water and our quality of life in exchange for vague promises of “technological innovation” that may never materialize or benefit the communities most at risk.

Memphis has endured too much to be treated as expendable yet again. We must continue to demand accountability, defend our environment and fight for the communities most impacted by these decisions. The future of Memphis must belong to its people — not to outside interests seeking profit at our expense.

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