St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advises that during the months of October and November, the Marine Section of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office responded to the following incidents:

Call Out/Assistance:  October 4, 2020, 8:00 pm, Vermillion Bay

  On Sunday, October 04, 2020, at approximately 2000 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of a disabled vessel in Vermillion Bay near Cypremort point. Dispatch further advised that the boater and her boyfriend called stating they needed help due to an engine failure. The deputy made contact with the boater who stated they were returning to Cypremort Point when their engine quit running and will not restart. She also gave her position as just off Vermillion Lane about a mile and also stated she had her 19-month-old baby with them. The deputy advised the boater that the Sheriff's Office would respond and if their situation was to change to call back. The marine deputies responded to the location given in SMB-2, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, they observed two adults and an infant in a white fishing type vessel. The marine deputies had the boaters to secure a towline to the vessel and then all three of them boarded the patrol vessel. They were then transported to the Quintana Launch without incident.

 

 

Callout/Assistance:  October 4, 2020, 2:30 pm, Quintana Oil Field

On Sunday, October 04, 2020, at approximately 1430 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch in reference to a disabled vessel. Dispatch further advised that the boater called stating he needed help due to a fouled propeller. The deputy made contact with the boater who stated he was in the Quintana Oil Field when he fouled the propeller on his vessel with a crab trap buoy and the engine will not run. The deputy advised the boater the Sheriff's Office would respond and if his situation was to change to call back. Deputies responded to the location in SMB-2, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, it was learned that the boater's 14-year-old grandson was with him. The deputies removed the obstruction from the engine's propeller, however, the outboard would not run due to other mechanical issues. A towline was secured to the vessel and the boaters boarded the patrol vessel and were transported to the Franklin Boat launch without incident.

 

Call out/Assistance:  October 12, 2020, 6:30 am, M/B 97.4, ICW

On Monday, October 12, 2020, at approximately 0630 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of an overturned vessel. Dispatch further advised the United States Coast Guard (USCG) called stating they received a notice of an overturned vessel at the 97.4 M/B of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). They further stated the hull color was white. The deputy contacted the USCG and was advised that the towing vessel was standing by with the overturned vessel. The deputy contacted the towing vessel and spoke with the Captain who stated that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) was already on scene. The deputy contacted the LDWF agent who advised it was a small paddle boat that appeared to have been in the water for quite some time. The deputy stood by at the Berwick Boat Launch until the Agent arrived. The vessel was secured at the boat launch until the St. Mary Parish Government could send a trash truck to dispose of it.

 

Regular Patrol/Assistance:  October 13, 2020, 11:22 am, The Jaws

On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at approximately 1122 hours, deputies with the SMPSO Marine Section were on patrol in the area of the Jaws when they observed an individual standing on the shoreline just north of Mud Bayou, signaling with a piece of Roso grass. The deputies responded to the individual's location in a marked patrol vessel (SMB-4). Upon arrival, the individual stated he had sunk his vessel and had to swim to the shore. The boater boarded the patrol vessel and direct us to where he had sunk. Upon arrival, the deputies observed a small aluminum hull vessel overturned. They were able to recover the vessel and transport the boater and his vessel to the Baldwin Boat Launch without incident.

 

 

Call out-search/rescue mission:  November 15, 2020, 11:40 am, Weeks Bay

On Sunday, November 15, 2020, while currently finishing a SAR mission, a deputy with the St Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of a vessel with a child on board taking on water in Weeks Bay. I advised dispatch to call Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office (IPSO) because that was in Iberia Parish. The marine deputies were then en route to Weeks Bay. While en route they contacted a deputy with IPSO, who advised that their large patrol vessel was 10-7 at the time and wasn't sure if they could make it to Weeks Bay given the current sea state. The deputy advised IPSO that St. Mary was en route. Upon arrival in Weeks Bay (near Shark Island), the deputies observed a small vessel pulled up along the shoreline. Upon making contact it was determined that the boater and his juvenile son were the individuals they were searching for. The deputies transported them to the Quintana Boat Launch in Cypremort Point without incident. The vessel was left due to it being unsafe to tow in the sea conditions. After arriving at the boat launch, the boater and his son were turned over to IPSO for transport to his vehicle in Delcambre.

 

Call out-assistance:  November 15, 2020, 10:45 am, Wax Lake Delta (East Pass)

On Sunday, November 15, 2020, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section observed a stranded duck hunter in East Pass-Wax Lake Delta. While performing a SAR mission in this area, the deputies observed three individuals standing near a duck hunting type vessel approximately 100 yards further East. One of the individuals was attempting to gain the attention of the deputies. After assisting the previous vessel, the deputies responded to that location and made contact with the boater who stated that he and his sons were also aground and in need of assistance. At that time, the deputy contacted dispatch and advised them of the situation. A towline was secured to the vessel and it was towed off the sand bar without incident. After being checked for required safety equipment, the boaters returned to the boat launch under their own power.

 

Call out-assistance:  November 15, 2020, 9:15 am, Wax Lake Delta

On Sunday, November 15, 2020, at approximately 0915 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of a stranded duck hunter at the Wax Lake Delta. Dispatch further advised that the hunter called stating he and two friends were hunting on the Wax when the tide dropped, leaving them stranded. The deputy made contact with the hunter who provided coordinates to his location. The deputy advised the hunter that the Sheriff's Office would respond and if his situation changed before the arrival to call back. Deputies responded to the coordinates given in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, they observed three individuals standing near a duck hunting type vessel. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries arrived to assist and the vessel was towed off the sand bar without incident. After being checked for required safety equipment, the hunters returned to the boat launch under their own power.

 

Call out-assistance:  November 15, 2020, 3:00 pm, M/B 111, ICW

On Sunday, November 15, 2020, at approximately 1500 hours, Marine Deputies with the SMPSO were returning from a previous SAR mission when they received a call from dispatch advising of a disabled vessel in the ICW. Dispatch advised that the boater called stating he was returning from the Wax Lake Delta and experienced engine failure. The deputies made contact with the boater who stated he was at the 111 M/B of the ICW. The deputies advised the boater that the Sheriff's Office would be responding and his situation was to change to call back. Deputies responded from the 130 M/B of the ICW in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival at the area given, they observed three individuals seated in a duck hunting type vessel. A  towline was secured to the vessel and the boaters were transported to the Cabot Boat Launch without incident.

 

Regular Patrol/Rescue:  November 30, 2020, 12:37 pm, Cypremort Point

On Monday, November 30, 2020, at approximately 1230 hours a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising that a boater called stating he was on the rocks near the Quintana Boat launch and was in need of assistance. The deputy made contact with the boater who stated that his outboard engine failed and he drifted on to the jetties. He also stated he had three family members with him. The deputy advised that the Sheriff's Office would respond and if his situation was to change to call back. Marine Section deputies responded to the coordinates given in SMB-2, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, it was determined that they could not reach the stricken vessel with our patrol vessel due to an extremely low tide. The deputy contacted District 11 Fire Department and asked for his assistance with an Air boat. Fire department personnel arrived and together they were able to transport the 4 subjects to the Quintana Boat Launch without incident. The United States Coast Guard and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries were notified of the vessel's location and status.

 

 

PATROL ACTIVITY:

In the months of October and November, the Marine Section deputies patrolled many areas of SMP, however, they patrolled areas south of the Intercoastal Waterway quite often due to the start of hunting season. The number of boats increased significantly due to the opening of hunting season as usual.

Marine Section deputies are reminding boaters and hunters to leave a float plan with a responsible adult, make sure boats are equipped with required safety equipment, motors are well maintained, and use extreme caution in areas you may not be familiar with when on St. Mary's waterways.

 

Contact Information:

 

Public Information Officer

St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office

985-384-1622

pio@stmaryso.com

http://www.stmaryso.com/