On 09/01/13 at approximately 7:50 PM, the reporting officer, Marine Police Officer, was notified of a boat accident by the Marengo Co. Communications Center (E-911). Dispatchers advised that a boat had gone over the Demopolis Dam and that the boat was stuck on the rock shelf on the West side of the Dam. It should be noted that the Demopolis Dam is an overflow type dam and that it does not have a gate system. Officer responded to the Lower Pool boat launch, where he was met by representatives of the Demopolis Fire Department, Demopolis Police Department, Department of Conservation, WFF-LE, US Coast Guard and US CORP of Engineers and Emergency Medical Services. Officer was advised that the operator of the boat was still in the boat and that he was talking to first responders on his cell phone. The Operator advised that his ribs hurt, but that he was OK. Officer noted that attempts to reach the boat operator were up to that point, unsuccessful. Operator's boat was sitting flat, right side up, in about a foot of water, but that the area the boat was sitting in was surrounded by numerous streams of rapidly moving water, which was about three feet deep. Officers were eventually able to reach Operator and assist him in walking out to first responders. Operator was transported to the Bryan Whitfield Hospital where he was treated and then transported to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. 
Operator was treated for multiple broken ribs, held for observation and then released. During the interview with Operator, he stated that he was on Lake Demopolis, above the Demopolis Dam, when his boat stalled. Operator stated that by the time he restarted his boat, it was too late and that he went over the dam. The witnesses stated that they were fishing below the dam when they saw Operator's boat come over the dam and land on the rock shelf, at which point they called for help. As of this date, Operator's boat is still sitting in the same location where it landed. It should be noted that officers were unable to denote any identifiers that indicated that Operator was above the legal limit for alcohol.  Operator did state that he had consumed a "couple" of beers earlier. Several hours had passed between the time of the accident and when officers were able to make contact and observe Operator. Officer met with the Marengo Co. District Attorney, Assistant DA and DA's Investigator ref. the possibility of pursuing charges. Their recommendation, based on the lack of indicators at the time of the accident and based on the lack of a conclusive blood / breath test, was not to pursue charges. The District Attorney did not believe that the blood testing done by the hospital was conclusive enough for prosecution. An inspection of Operator's boat did not reveal any alcohol, full or empty containers.
Demopolis