Merced Police investigate possible drowning of 34-year-old man in Bear Creek

Authorities are investigating the possible drowning of a man who was pulled from Bear Creek in Merced on Friday.

Officers responded to the area of West 28th and K streets near Bear Creek at about 1:37 p.m. after a citizen reported a possible person floating in Bear Creek, Merced Police Sgt. Jeremy Salyers said. When officers arrived on scene they observed a man submerged under the water. City of Merced firefighters responded to the scene and recovered the man’s body from the creek.

The 34-year-old Merced man did not have any injuries and there does not appear to be any signs of a struggle, Salyers said. The man’s name has been withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

“He did have a history of some medical issues, which at this point in time we think may have contributed to what occurred,” said Salyers said. “The level of the water there — he could have stood up in the water, it was very shallow.”

Investigators are working to check video surveillance in the area to determine a timeline of when the man arrived at the location as well as speaking with any possible witnesses. Authorities said the cause of death is unknown at this time and the incident is being investigated as a drowning.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Merced Police Detective Edwin Arias at 209-388-7826 or by email at ariase@cityofmerced.org.