Dive team searches for man who possibly drowned after fleeing deputies

VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. -- A man who was possibly fleeing from deputies may have drowned in Muskrat Lake Wednesday evening.

The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office was called to the 37000 block of 2nd Avenue in Bloomingdale Township to investigate reports of someone attempting to break into a vehicle and garage.

When deputies arrived, they followed the suspect's footprints in the snow.

While in the area, they saw a person dressed all in black, carrying a shovel.

They attempted to make contact, but the subject ran, reports said.

Deputies received a second call from an address in the area about a subject in their yard.

When deputies arrived on scene, they found a man in the water, approximately 100 yards off shore, clinging to a sinking canoe, yelling for help, according to deputies.

Deputies threw rescue ropes and commandeered a row boat in an attempt to try to rescue the subject.

By the time deputies got into the water, the man was underwater.

The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office dive team was unable to locate the subject.

Because of the snow and low temperatures, the search was suspended Wednesday night and was expected to resume Thursday morning.

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