A male subject fled from law enforcement and later drowned after he was spotted by a Woodland police officer after hours in Horseshoe Lake Park just after midnight on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
Officer Alex Olson attempted to contact an unknown male subject who was in Horseshoe Lake Park after the park was closed. Olson flashed the emergency lights on his patrol car to get the male’s attention. Shortly after, the male fled from Olson going deeper into the park and toward the lake. Approximately 10 minutes later, Olson located the male about halfway across the lake. At that time, the subject asked for help, saying he was unable to swim anymore, a news release by the Woodland Police Department stated.
Olson lost sight of the male and requested assistance from fire and rescue as well as other law enforcement units before quickly obtaining life jackets from the life jacket loaner board nearby. He jumped into the water in an attempt to help the male who fled from him minutes before, the release stated. Olson swam to the last location he observed the male but could not locate him.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Dive Team responded, as well as Clark Cowlitz Fire & Rescue. CCSO conducted a search with dive team members but could not locate the male in initial efforts, the release stated.
Due to the length of time the male had been in the water, officials determined the subject could not have survived and the rescue mission turned into a recovery mission, the release stated. Clark Cowlitz Fire & Rescue cleared the scene while CCSO continued the search. Deputies and dive team members located the male subject who was deceased approximately five hours after the initial call.
As of Friday, Aug. 9, the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office was attempting to identify and notify next of kin. They will not release the subject’s identity until after that time, the release stated.
