Coast Guard: Search For Treasure Island Man Suspended

TREASURE ISLAND, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday afternoon that it had suspended a search for a missing 78-year-old Treasure Island man.

Arthur Dennis Velasco fell off a 32-foot sailboat early Sunday morning about 15 miles northwest of Anclote Key. The coast guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and area residents searched more than 2,878 square nautical miles over the period of 76 hours for Velasco, the guard wrote in an email to media.

“Throughout this case, the family and friends of Dennis have been an exceptional source of information and cooperation, our deepest condolences goes out to all of them," said Capt. Gregory Case, Commander Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, in a statement. "Suspending a search and rescue case is one of the hardest decisions to make in the Coast Guard. The decision to suspend is not taken lightly and is based on a multitude of factors from the case."

Tropical Storm Colin did force a temporary delay during the search, but the guard reports it resumed as soon as the storm passed. Despite their efforts, however, Velasco was not found.

Velasco was reportedly onboard a sailboat with Alan Schaller from Inglis when he fell off.

“Schaller was unable to recover Velasco from the water after Velasco had fallen off the sailboat,” the coast guard said Sunday. “Velasco entered the water without a life jacket.”

The coast guard estimated Velasco fell overboard around 3:40 a.m. Sunday.

While the official search has been suspended, anyone with information that might be helpful in the case is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 727-824-7506.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson

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