St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advises that during the month of August, the Marine Section of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office responded to the following incidents:

 

Assistance:  August 6, 2020, 7:14 am, Taylor's Point

On Thursday, August 06, 2020, a detective with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch in reference to a stranded bass boat in the GA Cut. Dispatch further advised that a boater called stating he ran aground and needed assistance. The deputy made contact with the boater via cell phone and was provided with coordinates to the location. The boater and a passenger were in the boat and sustained no injuries when the vessel ran aground. The deputy advised the boater that the Sheriff's Office would be responding and if his situation was to change to call back.

 

The deputy responded to the location given in SMB-2, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, he observed both individuals standing near a bass type fishing vessel at Taylors Point. A towline was secured to the vessel and it was successfully towed off the sand bar. The is nothing further to report in this incident.

 

 

Assistance:  August 8, 2020, 9:39 am, Charenton Lake (Taylor's Point)

On Saturday, August 08, 2020, at approximately 0930, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of a stranded vessel in Charenton Lake. Dispatch further advised that a citizen called stating there was a stranded vessel near Taylors Point. I then made contact with the caller who stated she and her husband had pulled a vessel off the sand bar near Taylors Point then the vessel ran aground again and this time they could not reach it.

 

Deputies responded in SMB-4 a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival at the Charenton Beach Boat Launch, it was observed that a good Samaritan in a surface drive type vessel had towed the stricken vessel back to the boat launch. The deputies helped them trailer their vessel. There is nothing further to report.

 

Search/Rescue Mission:  August 10, 2020, 3:00 pm, Atchafalaya River M/B 120

On Monday, August 10, 2020, at approximately 1500 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a SAR text from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in reference to a vessel adrift in the Atchafalaya River at Mile Board 120. The SAR text further stated the vessel seemed to have been recently occupied but no one was present on board. The deputy then advised dispatch and supervisors of the situation. Two deputies responded in SMB-3, a marked patrol vessel. While en route, the deputies coordinated search efforts with the USCG and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).

Upon arrival at M/B 120, the deputies observed a 22' aluminum skiff with a Suzuki outboard and shrimp fishing gear tied alongside another vessel. The operator of the other vessel stated he found the vessel drifting at this location then stood by with it until we arrived. The deputies learned who the vessel belonged to and contact was made with the man who positively identified the vessel as his. The deputies towed the vessel and secured it at the Berwick Boat Launch.

 

Assistance:  August 20, 2020, 1:05 pm, Blue Point Chute

On August 20, 2020, at approximately 1305 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of a disabled vessel in Bayou Long. Dispatch further advised that the boater called stating he was experiencing engine trouble and needed assistance. The deputy made contact with the boater via cell phone and was provided with coordinates to his location and learned that he had his two sons with him. Once their location was plotted it was determined that they were in St. Martin Parish. I advised dispatch to contact St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office and relay the information and also advised them if they needed assistance to call me. Moments later, the St. Martin SO responded that they had a deputy in route.  Sometime later, the St. Martin S.O. called back advised that they needed St. Mary's assistance.

The deputy responded in SMB-4, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, I observed one adult and two juveniles seated in a vessel at the coordinates given. A towline was secured to his vessel and the boaters boarded the patrol vessel after donning life vests. The boaters and their vessel were transported to the New Verdunville Launch without incident.

 

Assistance:  August 21, 2020, 5:00 pm, Southwest Pass

On Friday, August 21, 2020, at approximately 1700 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch in reference to a stranded fishing vessel in South West Pass. The deputy advised dispatch that the area was in Iberia Parish to notify them. Moments later, the deputy was contacted by a deputy with Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office (IPSO) who advised he was busy with an investigation. The deputy made contact with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and asked if they had an Agent nearby and was advised that an agent would be making contact with the boater.

Sometime later dispatch called advising of another stranded vessel on Marsh Island and again the deputy advised dispatch that the area was in Iberia Parish. The deputy made contact with IPSO and advised them of the situation and that an airboat would be needed for this one. The LDWF then called asking if St. Mary could handle the stranded vessel in South West Pass as he was being redirected to the stranded vessel on Marsh Island.

The deputy obtained permission to respond and had dispatch pull a C-1 for assistance with IPSO. The deputy and two reserve deputies responded in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel to South West Pass where we observed a 19' Nautic Star with two persons on board. A towline was secured to the vessel and the two boaters donned life vests and boarded the patrol vessel. They were then transported to the Quintana Boat Launch without incident.

 

Search and Rescue Mission:  August 22, 2020, 1:30 pm, GA Cut near Bayou Benoit Landing

On Saturday, August 22, 2020, at approximately 1330 hours,  a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of an unconscious adult male that launched from the Bayou Benoit Boat Launch. The deputy advised dispatch the area should be in Iberia Parish. Dispatch advised the 911 operator stated they had made contact with IPSO and was told the cell ping showed the vessel to be in St. Mary Parish. The deputy entered the coordinates into my chart plotter and determined the coordinates given put the vessel in the Little Wax Bayou South of Berwick. This is not impossible but highly unlikely. The deputy called dispatch back and advised to recheck the coordinates. The deputy contacted the 911 operator and she stated the coordinates were a historical ping and that she didn't think the vessel was actually at that location. The deputy obtained the name of the caller and their cell number and made an attempt to make contact with the caller, but was sent to voice mail. The deputy then contacted the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office (IPSO) and advised of the situation, and requested that a patrol deputy would head to the address of the caller. The caller called back, stating she was in a vehicle on the levee near the Bayou Benoit Landing with the male subject (now conscious) complaining of pains. She also stated she was headed to the nearest hospital with him. There is nothing further to report at this time.

 

PATROL ACTIVITY:

In the month of August, the Marine Section deputies patrolled the areas of Bayou Teche east of the Calumet Cut, areas south of the Intercoastal Waterway west of the Calumet Cut to Cypremort Point.  Made vigorous patrols of the Wax Lake Delta, Big Wax Bayou to Shell Island, and the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area.

 

Contact Information:

 

Public Information Officer

St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office

985-384-1622

pio@stmaryso.com

http://www.stmaryso.com/