LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Washington Man Dies After Jump Off Sitka Bridge
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A Washington State man who jumped off O’Connell bridge Friday was found dead in Sitka Channel Saturday afternoon, police said.
The body of Tyler Jones, 29, of Bellingham, Wash., was recovered by a Sitka dive team shortly after noon Saturday. The body was found at a depth of 30 feet, about 50 feet from the Japonski Island shoreline, said Sitka police Lt. Lance Ewers.
Ewers said police received a report at 11:42 p.m. Friday that a man was in the water under the bridge. When the man was not located immediately, a search was started, and continued with Coast Guard overflights Saturday morning.
Police said the investigation indicated that Jones was with a friend Friday night, when he decided to jump off the bridge and swim to shore. The friend tried to talk him out of it, without success, Ewers said.
After asking his friend to meet him on the beach with his clothes, Jones reportedly took off most of his clothes and jumped off the bridge near the support pier closest to Japonski Island.
When Jones did not appear within a half hour after he jumped, the friend called police, Ewers said.
The Sitka Fire Department search and dive teams, a Coast Guard helicopter and police officers on the city emergency response boat took part in the ensuing search.
Ewers said the search went from about midnight Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday, and resumed at 8 a.m. Saturday until Jones’ body was found around 12:25 p.m. Saturday.
Ewers said police gave a disorderly conduct warning about a month ago to another man who jumped off the bridge and swam to shore.
A video of that jump was posted on YouTube.
That jump occurred at high tide and during daylight hours, and Jones jumped at night and at low tide, Ewers noted.
“Jumping off the bridge is an awful idea, a terrible idea,” Ewers said. The next person to try it will be charged criminally, he said.
“When you create a hazardous condition with no legitimate purpose, that is a criminal offense,” Ewers said. He said the incident Friday night not only caused a man’s death, but also put the searchers at risk.
Next of kin was notified, and the body will be sent north to the State Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy. “It is unknown whether alcohol was a factor,” Ewers said in a news release.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.