RedactedNarrative: On August 27, 2021 at approximately 12:40 I responded to a 911 call of a boat that had sunk in Canyon Ferry Reservoir during a windstorm.  A Lewis & Clark County deputy had arrived on scene prior to me and advised another boater had recovered the vessel operator from the water.  He was wearing a life jacket.  He met the operator, and single occupant, of the vessel at the Shannon Boat Ramp.  The operator was identified. Warden arrived on scene just before me.  I arrived at the boat ramp at 13:00.  Operator1 was wet and the wind was blowing so I provided him with a jacket.  Immediately upon approaching him I could smell alcohol, and it was noted by other law enforcement.  I coordinated with the Lewis & Clark County Search and Rescue when they arrived on scene to collect the floating debris and determine the location of the sunken vessel.  Operator1 was able to give us an approximate location.  Information was gathered from the rescuing vessel and he was released from scene.
  
  I conducted a body camera recorded interview with Operator1 about what had caused the boat to sink.  He stated he was not the owner of the boat and had limited experience with it.  It was purchased a year prior and registered to his girlfriend.  That morning he had launched the boat for recreational fishing, he has a valid fishing license.  He also stated the boat was registered in Lewis and Clark County, but did not know the numbers.  When the storm was approaching he was navigating around Cemetery Island trying to head into the wind like he had seen on television shows.  He had approximately 2 feet waves coming over the bow and began to fill the boat, he did not have anything to bail water with.  After a couple more waves the boat began to sink so he put on a life jacket, he had 3 on board.  The boat sunk with the motor going down first.  He yelled for help while waves were washing over him.  He was rescued by another boater who could see the floating debris like his cooler, but took a bit longer to locate him.  He credited the life jacket and the helpful boater with saving his life.
  
  Other boaters had picked up some of the debris and brought it to the boat ramp while we were talking.  One of the items returned was the cooler containing 16 oz Bud Light beer.  I asked Operator1 if he had been drinking and he stated he had consumed 3 beers.  He consented to blow a breathe sample.  The preliminary breathe test sample showed 0.103 BAC.  I asked if he had 4 beers, and he stated that he was consuming the 4th when the boat went down.  It was also determined that he had previous DUI in another state, and his driver license was suspended as a result.
  
  The Search and Rescue boat was not able to locate the sunken vessel in approximately 130 feet of water.  They did recover the seats and Styrofoam that would have allowed the vessel to remain afloat.  They cleared the scene when all the property was returned to Operator1 and it was determined the sunken vessel would not pose a safety hazard to other boaters.  Once the owner of the boat arrived on scene she took possession of the boat trailer at the ramp.  I issued a citation for boating under the influence to Operator1 and released him with the boat owner.
  