RedactedNarrative: On 04/21/2018 at 1840 hours subject called Mecklenburg County Dispatch and reported an unoccupied boat floating near Bluestone boat ramp. Upon arriving on scene, I located a blue and white Stratos boat floating towards the middle of the creek. I was able to observe the boat registration numbers. I also locate a blue Chevrolet pickup with a trailer that appeared to fit the unoccupied vessel. I ran that vehicle's registration number and it had the same owner.  
  
  I tried to make contact with the registered owner of the vessel, with a phone number listed on file, but was not able to reach anyone. On the way out to the boat I located a camouflage ball cap floating in the water. At the boat I observed two rods hanging off of the port side of the boat. I also saw a rope hanging in the water attached to a cleat. When I pulled up the rope, I found that it was in a figure eight pattern. I also found a type III PFD on the driver’s seat with a safety lanyard attached to it. The PFD was on the seat as if someone had laid it there. I then towed the boat back to Bluestone Boat Ramp.  Due to the location of the boat and ball cap, the rods hanging off of the boat, the PFD position and the figure eight in the rope I made the determination that there was a high probability the operator of the vessel had entered the water while trying to tie the boat off to the dock. I had Deputy see if the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office 
  (MCSO) Dive team was available and if so, to respond to the scene. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office Dive  Team and the Lake Gaston Volunteer Fire Department Dive Team arrived on scene to assist in locating a possible body. The MCSO ran their side scan sonar in an attempt to get a possible target to dive on. The operator identified two possible targets to check. The MCSO divers dove on one target to no avail, and then attempted a line search of the dock to get to the second target.  While conducting the line search, the divers were  able to locate a body at 2249 hours. At this point I had Mecklenburg County 911 contact the Medical Examiner’s Office to respond. Dr.  came to the scene to do a preliminary inspection and then the body was transported  to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond by Harris Funeral Home. The body was able to be identified. Victim’s son came to the scene and I was able to release truck, boat, trailer and other items to him.  I believe that victim was attempting to tie his boat to the dock and entered into the water. I also believe that the clothing that he was wearing contributed to him drowning.
  