From left are Busti Town Board members Tyler Nelson, and Jim Andrews. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

LAKEWOOD – The search for Daniel Scott Emerson is still ongoing.

Lakewood-Busti Police Department Chief Matthew Bentley gave an update Monday to Busti Town Board members about Emerson.

Emerson’s truck was found in Chautauqua Lake near the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Bentley said that the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department dive team located the vehicle around 9 a.m. March 16, and on March 20 the vehicle was found in shallow water near the bridge between pillars 3 and 4, and removed from the lake.

Bentley said the vehicle recently was extricated from the lake, and Emerson was not in the vehicle. The back driver’s side window was rolled down, so authorities think Emerson may have tried to escape.

“What’s being done now is being handled by the Sheriff’s Office because the truck being found in the lake. The assumption is that he is still in the lake. They are handling any sort of recovery process right now,” Bentley said.

LBPD is in a holding pattern.

“We’re waiting to hear updates from the sheriff’s office. It’s kind of a day-by-day thing,’ Bentley added.

Officials, Bentley noted, are working backwards to create a timeline for when Emerson entered the lake, where he entered the lake, and how long he was in the lake.

Emerson had disappeared around 12:30 a.m. March 3 and the missing persons report was filed March 5 at 11:45 a.m

The board also approved the cost for a 2026-2027 transfer station sticker at $110.

Supervisor Jesse Robbins there is no increase from 2025-2026 sticker price.

Robbins said town residents need to fill out an application. Residents must complete the application and return it to the town offices located at 125 Chautauqua Ave., Lakewood. Residents may purchase a sticker, once they return the completed application, Robbins said.