Man arrested after “missing boater search”

The Racine County Sheriff’s Department has determined that a boater misled them when he told authorities his friend was still missing in Lake Michigan.  Two men went out on the lake at about dusk Sunday evening and had engine trouble.

Richard Herek, 49, and Jeffrey Martin, 44, got back to shore with the boat and Herek went for help.  When he returned, Martin was gone.

Martin had left and contacted Wind Point police. Based on what he said, police initiated a water rescue/recovery.

After about four-and-a-half hours, Herek was found asleep.

Lt. Dan Klatt said a Wind Point officer called the Sheriff’s Department around 3 a.m. saying they found a man on the short of Lake Michigan who could not locate his friend.

“The individual stated that he fell out of a boat hand that he’d been swimming for the past hour to get to shore,” Klatt said.

Martin was arrested and is in the Racine County Jail.

A representative with the U.S. Coast Guard said the cost of searching with a boat and a helicopter is approximately $14,000.

Sheriff’s department officials said that alcohol may have been involved in the incident.

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