Search Continues for Missing Minnesota River Swimmer

Carver County authorities were continuing a water search on Thursday for a man reported missing in the Minnesota River near the Highway 41 bridge in Chaska, according to the sheriff's office. A 911 call came in at 4:54 p.m. on Wednesday reporting a man in the river near the bridge and the Winkel Park boat ramp, Sheriff Jason Kamerud told FOX 9. Witnesses told authorities the man entered the water on his own, began swimming, then submerged and did not resurface, according to the sheriff's office. No update on the missing swimmer's condition or whereabouts had been released as of Thursday. ### Where was the swimmer last seen? The Highway 41 bridge area in Chaska was the focus of the search, with crews working near the Minnesota River crossing and the Winkel Park boat ramp, according to Carver County authorities. The site is in southwestern Twin Cities suburbs and includes river access used by boaters and other visitors. (fox9.com) FOX 9 reported that family members of the missing man were at the scene as authorities searched the river. The station said relatives urged caution for people visiting the river while the search continued. ### What did witnesses tell investigators? Witnesses reported that the man went into the river on his own and started swimming, according to the Carver County Sheriff's Office as cited by local news outlets. (fox9.com) At some point, he went underwater and did not come back up, the sheriff's office said. A man described by some local reports as Hispanic and about 5-foot-7 was last seen without a shirt and wearing khaki pants, according to reports that attributed the description to the sheriff's office. (fox9.com) Reuters could not independently verify that description from a direct sheriff's office release visible online, but the details were carried by multiple local aggregations of the incident. (bringmethenews.com) ### Which agencies joined the search? Carver County's active calls log showed a Chaska Fire "Water Rescue - 1 Alarm" entry at 4:55 p.m. on May 13, followed by sheriff, dive team and mutual-aid responses in Chaska within minutes. The same log listed Carver County Dive Team assistance at 5:07 p.m. and mutual-aid calls involving Victoria Fire and Carver Fire Department at 5:14 p.m. (newsbreak.com) Bring Me The News reported that deputies, police and fire crews responded to the scene and began a search Wednesday evening. Midwest Local News said the response included drones, an underwater operated vehicle, boats equipped with sonar, a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter and land searches on both sides of the river. (carvercountymn.gov) ### Has the sheriff's office identified the missing man? Carver County authorities had not publicly identified the missing swimmer in the reports available on Thursday. FOX 9 said officials had offered no update while the search remained active. Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says missing adults are typically entered by local law enforcement into the FBI's National Crime Information Center file, with the state's Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse serving as a support tool for agencies. (bringmethenews.com) The state clearinghouse page did not itself provide case-specific details on the Chaska search in the material reviewed. (fox9.com) ### What happens next in the case? Search operations were expected to continue on Thursday, according to local reports citing the sheriff's office. Authorities asked anyone with information about the man's whereabouts to call 911 or the Carver County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 952-361-1231, according to local reports. (hometownsource.com) (portal.dps.mn.gov)