JUNEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT
6255 ALAWAY AVENUE JUNEAU, ALASKA 99801
Business (907) 586-0600
Fax (907) 463-4808
Integrity, Courage, Service, Respect
INFORMATION RELEASE
Date: 2014-10-24
From: Lt. Kris Sell
Case or Incident: #2014-044425
A 43 year old Juneau man was rescued early this morning, October 24th, 2014, after multiple people heard his cries for help from a swamped boat in the Gastineau Channel. The calls started coming to the Juneau Police Department at about 1:00 a.m. and the US Coast Guard rescued the man shortly after 2:00 a.m..
The man later told officers he had found a plywood boat with a 'Free' sign on it and had decided to use it to row to Auke Bay from downtown Juneau. The man admitted he had been drinking and smoking marijuana.
JPD Officers used spotlights to keep track of the man and requested a Coast Guard response. The man yelled that he was cold and cursed at the officers, apparently displeased with the time it took the Coast Guard to respond. The man said he did have a life jacket in the boat and agreed to get it and put it on at about 1:30 a.m..
After the rescue the man declined emergency medical care but was transported to Bartlett Regional Hospital at his request. Criminal charges are not anticipated.
All factual allegations contained in this release are based upon preliminary investigation and are subject to change or clarification as the investigation continues. Any charges reported in this release are merely accusations and all persons named in this release are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.