RedactedNarrative: On October 31, 2015 I, RFC was on patrol in Richmond Hill, Georgia, at approximately 0925 hours I was notified by Sgt. of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), of a boating incident, in South Channel near Fort Pulaski. The incident was believed to be a single vessel and single occupant boating incident. The operator was believed to be in the water. 
  
  I arrived on scene approximately 1025 hours and met with officers who were in the Safe boat in a target recovery mission. The Savannah Chatham Metro Police Department (SCMPD) Marine Patrol Unit, the dive team, and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) were also on scene. 
  
  Sgt. informed me at the time of the incident that witnesses on the bank fishing observed a vessel traveling above idle speed under the bridge and then heard the sound of a crash (See witness statements). They observed the vessel come out the other side without the operator. Moments later the operator was observed floating and then disappeared under water. One of the witnesses attempted to lower a line to the operator, but by the time he was able to get in position on the bridge he was unable to locate the operator. At this time the vessel was moving up stream with the incoming tide. The engine was running in gear and the vessel was circling. The USCG arrived minutes later. They boarded the vessel to kill the engine and deploy the anchor. Sgt. Found the vessel registration of GA 0299 CX. She located a vehicle tag at the Lazaretto Creek boat ramp that matched the registered individual.
  
  The vessel was towed to the north bank of the bridge and anchored by Cpl.. I took photographs of the vessel as it was when I saw it (see photo log). I located a yellow dry bag in the left bow compartment. Inside the dry bag I located a wallet with a driver's license. While looking for the wallet a firearm was located. It was unloaded and placed back in the bag. 
  
  At this time, Sgt. where notifying the next of kin. Sgt. obtained permission for the trailer to be used by DNR to recover the vessel.
  
  Sgt. traveled by vehicle to the Lazaretto Creek boat ramp to secure the trailer. I then operated the vessel from the area of the bridge to the boat ramp where Sgt. was waiting to load it on the trailer. The vessel was secured and we travelled back to Fort Pulaski to get my vehicle. Sgt. and I traveled to the DNR Priest Landing Boat House (PLBH) on Skidaway Island. Once we arrived at the boat house a vessel inventory was performed (see vessel inventory). The vessel was secured in the boat shed and we left for the evening. 
  
  On November 1, 2015 I traveled to Fort Pulaski and arrived around 0800 hours. Cpl. and RNG where in a target recovery mission. I boarded the DNR Safe boat with Cpl. and RNG and took photographs of the scene (See photo log). 
  
  I left Fort Pulaski and met Sgt. at the PLBH and continued to photograph the vessel. (See photo log). I spoke with Petty Officer and Petty Officer of the USCG Station Tybee. Officer was in charge of the boat crew that arrived first on the scene at approximately 0929 hours and secured the skiff. Officer informed me the skiff was still circling when they found it. The coordinates for that location were N32 01.5 and W80 54.4. Petty Officer boarded the skiff to turn off the engine and to deploy the anchor. Petty Officer informed me he only pulled the kill switch lanyard to turn off the engine and deployed the anchor. Everything else was left as he found it.
  
   