Ocean Shores Police and Fire Department personnel rescued four men in a capsized canoe on Duck Lake in the early morning hours Nov. 19.
At 12:45 a.m., Police reported a resident in the 600 block of Mount Olympus Ave. SE heard people screaming, “I need a boat!” The subjects in the water were flashing a light and blowing a rescue whistle.
Officers arrived on scene and located four men clinging to an overturned canoe in the middle of Duck Lake. Using boats borrowed from nearby residents, the four men were brought to shore.
One man, a 30-year old Lacey resident, was transported to the hospital with severe hypothermia. The other men were brought into a nearby home to get warmed up then were released.
The other men were all from Olympia: a 28-year old, 30-year old and 34-year old.
The men told responding officers that they were fishing when the back of the canoe began taking on water. The canoe capsized, and the motor sank. The men stated that they had been in the water for “a couple of hours.”
The accident appears to have been caused by the men overloading the canoe, which was rated for only three passengers and gear. The men were all wearing personal floatation devices.
Police statistics
The Ocean Shores Police Department have responded to 7,071 total calls or incidents through September, marking an overall 8.70 percent increase over 2015.
In September, there were 85 total traffic stops, resulting in 35 citations, with only two reportable traffic accidents. There were 11 arrests and 59 beach-related incidents; five burglaries and 23 theft reports.
Ocean Shores Police Calls
Nov. 11
• Camping/RV violation in the 700 block of S. Sand Dune Ave. SW at 10:48 a.m.
• Burglary reported in the 500 block of Cedar Ct. NE at 12:18 p.m.
• Court order violation in the 200 block of E. Rain St. NE. at 12:19 p.m.
• Camping/RV violation in the 400 block of Mt. Olympus Ave. SE at 12:50 p.m.
• Wire down/power out at Ocean Shores Blvd. at Sportsmans St. at 12:56 p.m.
• Disorderly conduct in the 600 block of Sunset Ave. NE at 1:38 p.m.
• Traffic accident in the 500 block of Pt. Brown Ave. NE at 5:14 p.m.
• Warrant arrest in the 800 block of Duck Lake Dr. SE at 6:56 p.m.
• Assist with response to power pole on fire in the 1300 block of Storm King Ave. SW at 11:23 p.m.
Nov. 12
• Assist with aid call in the 700 block of Ocean Shores Blvd. NW at 3:16 a.m.
• Theft reported in the 300 block of Cockle St. SW at 8:59 a.m.
• Camping/RV violation in the 700 block of Island Circle SE at 10:21 a.m.
• Code enforcement violation in the 700 block of Albion Ave. SE at 3:25 p.m.
• Theft in the 200 block of Olympic View Ave. NE at 3:35 p.m.
