Man Drowned At Loch Raven Reservoir: Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Divers have recovered the body of a man who drowned Monday in Loch Raven Reservoir, according to police. His identity has not been determined, and authorities ask anyone who may know who he is to contact the Baltimore County Police Department.

At 10:53 a.m. on Monday, water rescue crews were dispatched to the 10500 block of Pot Spring Road, where witnesses said a man went underwater and did not resurface, officials said.

Police had seen a man walk down a trail to the reservoir before swimming about 75 feet out and going under, according to ABC 2 News.

The officers were in the area because neighbors alerted authorities at 10:45 a.m. there was a man going door to door asking for water who appeared to be in distress.

For hours after the man was seen going underwater, swift water rescue teams from the Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company, Texas station and Arbutus Volunteer Fire Company searched Loch Raven Reservoir.

The mission turned from a rescue to a recovery at 12:40 p.m., officials reported, at which point dive teams from Gamber and Carroll County assisted in the effort.

At 6:21 p.m. on Monday, authorities said police divers recovered the body.

The identity of the man remains unknown as of Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Anyone with information about the man who drowned is asked to call the Baltimore County Police Department at 410-307-2020.

It is illegal to swim in Loch Raven Reservoir as well as Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs in Baltimore and Carroll counties.

All of the reservoirs are overseen by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works, which issued a reminder on Tuesday afternoon that swimming is prohibited.

Violators can be fined up to $1,000 and may be jailed, according to officials, who note that all three reservoirs are patrolled on land and water by Baltimore Environmental Police. These officers have full arrest powers and are often supported by local law enforcement agencies who also patrol the reservoirs, authorities advised.

The lakes are used for drinking water, public works officials said, and terrain and temperatures that vary widely may lead to injury and hypothermia for those who try to swim there.

Photo of rescue crews at Loch Raven Reservoir on Monday, Aug. 27, courtesy of Baltimore County Fire.