Officer quickly obtained a life jacket from the life jacket loaner board nearby and jumped into the water in attempt to help the male who fled from him minutes earlier

Shortly after midnight Thursday (Aug. 8), Woodland Police Officer Alex Olson attempted to contact an unknown male subject who was in Horseshoe Lake Park after the park was closed. 

Officer Olson flashed the emergency lights on his patrol car to get the male’s attention.  Seconds later the male fled from Officer Olson deeper into the park and toward the lake.  Approximately 10 minutes later, Officer Olson located the male about halfway across the lake. It was at this time the subject began to ask for help saying he was unable to swim anymore. 

Officer 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 and jumped into the water in attempt to help the male who fled from him minutes earlier.  Officer Olson swam to the last location he observed the male and was unable to locate him.

Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Dive Team was notified as well as Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue.  CCSO conducted a search with dive team members and were unable to locate the male.

Due to the length of time the male had been in the water it was determined the event would no longer be a rescue mission but a recovery mission.  Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue cleared the scene while CCSO continued the search.  Deputies and dive team members were able to locate the male subject deceased approximately five hours after the initial call.

The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office will be attempting to identify and notify next of kin.  Until then the identity of the male will not be released.

Information provided by the Woodland Police Department.