Photo courtesy Erie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team boat is pictured in the background as Erie County Sheriff’s Office divers prepare to enter Chautauqua Lake in March.

The Sheriff’s Office is taking the lead, searching for the missing Lakewood man whose vehicle was found submerged in Chautauqua Lake.

It is believed that on March 3, Daniel Scott Emerson drove across a frozen Chautauqua Lake. His truck was located in the lake March 16 near the bridge between pillars 3 and 4. Weather conditions prevented it from being removed that day, but it was pulled out four days later.

When it was removed, there was no body inside. The back driver’s side window was rolled down, so authorities think Emerson may have tried to escape.

“We continue to do shoreline searches, using sonar on these vessels to attempt to find Mr. Emerson. To this point, we have nothing further,” Sheriff Jim Quattrone said in a phone interview. “Our Investigation Unit is working with Lakewood Police Department to follow up on any leads or possible suspicious circumstances.”

Earlier this week, Lakewood-Busti Police Department Chief Matthew Bentley told town officials that the Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.

Quattrone said while they’re not searching “daily,” they are searching regularly, using various ways, including jet skis, boats and other options.

Quattrone said the search will continue at various levels until Emerson is located.