CORNELIUS, Ore. -- While William Peterson spent the week fishing and camping in Bend, up to eight law enforcement officers in three Willamette Valley counties were out looking for him.

Cornelius Police

His wife, Pam, told police he had gone on an overnight fishing trip, didn't say where, and didn't show up for work.

But once he turned up Saturday, he told officers that she had told him during an argument to get out.

She says, though, that the argument was months ago and she'd forgotten about it.

All of which left police in Cornelius, in Washington County, fuming about the thousands of dollars spent on the search.

Commander Ed Jensen says police can ill afford to spend time searching for people who aren't lost, especially now when budgets are tight.