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Capsized Canoe Results in Near Drowning Incident in Hopatcong

DATE: 08/25/15

CASE:15-10163

TIME: 20:40

LOCATION: Lake Hopatcong off of Katz Marina

NAME OF THE VICTIM: John Laureano

AGE OF THE VICTIM: 22

VICTIM LIVES: Skytop Road Hopatcong

ANY OTHER INFORMATION: Sgt. Antonello and Officer Mancuso responded to the area of Thompson Lane/Katz Marina for a report of a person yelling for help from the lake. When they arrived they met Don Bogardus age: 54 and Charles Anderson age: 73.  Bogardus heard the yelling and called Anderson who had a boat at Bogardus’s dock on Thompson Lane.  Anderson took the two officers out onto the lake.  They found a 16 foot canoe that was capsized. As they got closer they observed a male who was in the water next to the canoe. The male later identified as John Laureano age:22 was struggling to stay above the water. He was attempting to use the canoe as a floating device but he could not keep a hold of it. As Mr. Andersen pulled up to Laureano the officers threw life jackets towards him but he was unable to grab them. Several times Laureano went under the water struggling to keep afloat. Sgt. Antonello and Officer Mancuso grabbed Laureano’s arms and  pulled him onto Mr. Andersen’s boat. Laureano was shivering, disoriented and pale in color. They asked Laureano if anyone else was on the canoe with him and he stated “no”. While talking to Laureano they could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. His speech was slurred and slow. Mr. Andersen  took them to Katz Marina were the Hopatcong Ambulance Squad and Fire Department were waiting. Laureano was then transported to St. Clares Hospital in Dover.

 Mr. Andersen took Officer Mancuso and members of the Fire Department back out to the lake to retrieve the capsized canoe. They located the canoe and were able to pull it onto Mr. Andersen’s boat. They took it back to Katz Marina.

(These charges are merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty)

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