August 2008

Water Rescue Team Assists PG County Police with Evidence Search

On Saturday, August 22, 2009, LVRS’ Water Rescue Team was requested to assist the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Division with a search of a local waterbody.  Investigators had received good information that a suspect had disposed of the weapon in question by throwing it in the pond. Divers were requested to help search for a number of items either stolen during or used in the commission of a number of recent crimes in the Largo area.  The pond area searched ranged from 2-25 feet deep, and visibility was zero below the surface.

Seven LVRS divers utilized an exhaustive, line-based search method to methodically search the bottom of the pond for the evidence.  As in all underwater operations conducted by the team, divers utilized drysuits, tethered communications systems, line tenders, and back-up divers to ensure that all personnel operating on-scene were adequately protected.

After about 4 hours of active searching, divers had located a number of pieces of evidence, but did not recover a weapon in the search area.  The evidence was turned over to the police for further processing, and an expanded area will be searched at a later date.