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July 21, 2012 at 5:10 PM

Mercer Island man missing after boat trip

Police are searching for a missing Mercer Island man after his boat, above, was found grounded in Kirkland Friday night. (Photo courtesy of King County Sheriff’s Office)

A Mercer Island man is missing after he went out on his boat to do some repairs, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office.

Richard Sweezey

Sheriff’s spokewoman Sgt. Cindi West said Richard Sweezey’s boat, a 1965 Chris Craft, Roamer, was found grounded in Kirkland on Friday night.  The investigation began at 7 p.m. after a resident in the 300 block of Lake Ave West called police to report the boat had drifted into the shoreline.

Police boarded it, found a portable generator running and a tool in the water but didn’t find Sweezey, 67.

Fearing that Sweezey had fallen into the water,  the King County Sheriff’s helicopter unit and deputies began a search with the assistance of the Coast Guard and Seattle Police Marine Patrol.

Deputies found Sweezey’s car at the Queen City Yacht Club in Portage Bay where he has a slip.

Early Saturday deputies talked to a friend of Sweezey’s at the yacht club who said he usually didn’t have life jackets on the boat but the friend had loaned him one

Deputies said a life jacket was still inside the boat.

Police searched the area between the slip and where the boat was found without success.

Deputies contacted Sweezey’s wife who had been out of town and had been trying to reach him.

Investigators ask or anyone who may have seen the boat on Lake Washington on Friday afternoon to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206- 296-3311.

Comments | More in General news, The Blotter | Topics: King County Sheriff's Office, Mercer Island, missing

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The Today File is a general news blog featuring real-time coverage of Seattle and the Northwest. It is reported by the news staff of The Seattle Times and edited by Assistant Metro Editor Nick Provenza.

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