Crewmembers of the ferry Chetzemoka spotted the body of a man in the water near the Tahlequah Dock last Friday afternoon, Oct. 11.

Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Loretta Cool said that the first call from the Chetzemoka was received at 2:09 p.m. Crewmembers observed the body and launched a rescue boat to respond to the scene before informing Tacoma law enforcement, which began a search and rescue operation.

Several sailings between Point Defiance and Tahlequah were delayed throughout the afternoon as ferry crews made sure that the area was safe until law enforcement arrived according to Hadley Rodero, spokesperson for Washington State Ferries.

At press time, Jeff Polanco, an investigator for the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office, said that the identity of the man is still unknown and that no determination on the cause of death has yet been made.