Search comes to a halt in supected Lake Washington drowning

Police and King County officials suspended the search Tuesday for a man believed to have drowned 24 hours earlier in Lake Washington, near Marina Park.

January 27, 2009 12:39 pm
King County Sheriff's office divers prepare to use sonar on Tuesday
King County Sheriff's office divers prepare to use sonar on Tuesday

Police and King County officials suspended the search Jan. 27 for a man believed to have drowned 24 hours earlier in Lake Washington, near Marina Park.

According to several witnesses, an unidentified male voice cried for help at around 8 p.m. Monday night from about 100 yards offshore but divers and marine units couldn’t find anyone.

Combing the area for clues, Kirkland Police Lt. Nick Seibert said authorities believe a wallet and a set of keys found on the public dock Monday night were associated with the suspected drowning victim. A vehicle parked nearby matched the personal effects.

“We’re pretty sure there was a person on the dock,” Seibert said. “At this point in time, we’re unsure if it’s a suicide or an accidental death.”

No foul play is suspected.

Police identified the person in question as a 28-year-old male. They also contacted the man’s family, who live outside of the area, who could not confirm his whereabouts. The family filed a missing person report for the man on Jan. 30.

After Kirkland Police received a 911 call about the incident, marine units and divers from Seattle, Mercer Island, King County and a US Coast Guard helicopter rushed to search the frigid waters, said to be around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Medical personnel were also on standby. The search covered an area around the dock and Moss Bay with no current and 40-feet deep at it’s lowest point. A large area was covered by the search because witnesses did not see where the voice was coming from.

“The water can have an effect on sound, so it’s difficult to say where it was coming from,” Seibert said. “(But) the indications are, if someone drowns here they don’t move around too much.”

On Tuesday, patrol boats equipped with sonar and underwater cameras found nothing after sweeping a large area of the lake near the park’s public dock. Pending further review, Seibert said the search will remain suspended but is still under investigation.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.

More information is available on KING5.com and KirklandViews.com.