Body of black man, possible missing person, recovered from canal in Antioch, Thursday morning
By Sergeant John Fortner #3264, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau
In the early morning hours of Thursday, May 19, 2016, a citizen walking the Delta de Anza Regional Trail along the canal called in a body floating in the water, near James Donlon Blvd. and Nightingale Drive. At 8:53 a.m. Officers responded to the scene and confirmed the report. Based on the immediate signs at the scene the subject appeared to be deceased, and a recovery operation was initiated.
The Contra Costa County Fire District, Contra Costa County Water District and the East Bay Regional Parks PD responded to assist. A command post was established, and the affected area was closed down and cordoned off. Through a coordinated effort the body was safely retrieved and then removed from the canal.
The Fire District activated a swift-water rescue team, which is part of their Technical Rescue services. Once the body was safely and carefully removed from the canal the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department-Office of the Coroner was notified and responded.
A fully clothed black male adult was recovered from the water. The Deputy Coroner took custody of the body and is working on the identification of the subject. This incident is currently an on-going and active investigation.
Although this case preliminarily matches a Missing Persons report on file, the police department is not ruling out any options and a full investigation is being conducted.
The Antioch Police Department would like to thank all the organizations that responded to assist and the cooperative and concerned citizens at the scene. In maintaining the integrity of the investigation, and out of respect for the family of the deceased, no further information will be released at this time pending the identification of the subject.
This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.
