Coast Guard stops search for body seen in water

Published 10:17 pm Thursday, November 19, 2009

Search for body seen in water suspended

MUKILTEO — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday for a body reportedly seen floating near the Mukilteo ferry dock.

During the search, the ferry Kitsap dropped passengers off in Edmonds instead of Mukilteo.

Two witnesses about 10 a.m. Thursday reported seeing a person wearing a tan coat, blue pants and black sneakers floating in the water, Coast Guard spokesman David Marin said.

The ferries Kitsap and Cathlamet remained in Clinton during the search and rescue effort. Both ferries resumed service at 1 p.m., a Washington State Ferries spokeswoman said.

Tulalip Tribal Police, the Snohomish County Dive Team and the Coast Guard conducted a joint search using a helicopter, Coast Guard cutter and three small boats, Marin said.

Dive team members also suspended their search, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.

She said it’s possible the body washed out into Puget Sound. If that’s true, it wouldn’t be safe or realistic to send divers out now, she added.

A helicopter search did not find a body.