Just after midnight on July 8, 2011 San Juan County Deputy Jeff Asher and Deputy Felix Menjivar rescued seven people after a 22-foot boat hit rocks in Wasp Passage. Friday, November 18, the two officers received Marine Law Enforcement Lifesaving Awards from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Sheriff Rob Nou presented the awards.
Detective Brent Johnson received an award from Sheriff Nou in recognition of the outstanding work he did in the arson/homicide case this year.
Johnson’s work resulted in the arrest of the victim’s 15-year-old son three days after the fire. The boy plead guilty and was sentenced to five years in juvenile rehabilitation followed by two years in prison.
Boat Press Release:
Friday, July 8, 2011 at 12:05 a.m. San Juan County distpatch received a report of a vessel sinking, with people in the water in the Wasp Passage area near Shaw Island.
Deputies responding to the area located the 22-foot Reinell fiberglass boat aground on the rocks at Low Island. Seven people were rescued with minor to serious injuries and hypothermia. All were transported to Friday Harbor where they were treated by EMS personnel. Two patients were sent to St Josephs Hospital in Bellingham by helicopter.
The vessel was involved in commercial tribal crabbing operations and owned/operated by Henry T. Jackson, 42, of Suquamish.
Passengers aboard the vessel were James F. Anderson, 29 of Suquamish; Jay Mills, 27 of Indianola; Thomas M Jefferson, 44 of Bellingham, Andrew J Jefferson, (age and hometown unknown); Frank Olsen of Lummi and a 17-year-old boy from Chehalis. Olsen and the 17-year-old were medevaced to the mainland hospital.
The crash is being investigated by the San Juan County Sheriffs Office with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard. Alcohol is believed to be a factor contributing to this incident. There was no apparent fuel/chemical spill.
The Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology are monitoring the environmental aspects of the incident.
Article source: http://www.sanjuanislander.com/component/content/article/295-san-juan-county-sheriff/1681-deputies-honored-for-
