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Photo courtesy of Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — A ’Mayday call’ of a sinking boat on Lake Michigan late Monday night, June 24, that sent rescuers into dangerous waters was a prank, said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.
After receiving the “Mayday” call, emergency crews searched Lake Michigan between the Little Sable Point Lighthouse and Pentwater looking for a watercraft in distress, but no boat was found.
“After extensive search efforts by the responding boats, the U.S. Coast Guard determined that the search should be called off, as there was no other information confirming anyone was in distress. All four boat crews made it back to their ports safely prior to the overnight storms coming on shore.”
Mayday is an internationally recognized radio word to signal distress.
“We had deputies respond to the lighthouse — which we often do — and we use it as a search point,” said Sheriff Mast. “We gain the advantage of the height to go up there and scan with binoculars to look for vessels in distress. When the deputies were there, they had reason to believe that somebody else had been in the lighthouse prior to them getting there. They watched during the search; nothing was found; and the search was terminated.”
The following day, the sheriff’s office was contacted by state park employees who indicated that their marine band radio located at the top of the lighthouse had been broken.
The Little Sable Point Lighthouse
“We are now led to believe it was that marine band radio that was very likely to have placed the call of a vessel in distress. We believe the lighthouse was broken into, and when the suspects broke into the lighthouse, they accessed the radio and made a false report of a vessel in distress.
“There is a substantial cost associated with all this. We had deputies out from two different counties; we had two different patrol boats out. And the coast guard had their big boat out and they flew helicopters from Milwaukee. The coast guard investigative services division is very interested in following up with this investigation with us.
“We are led to believe that the suspects accessed the high-powered light bulb and lens as well. We believe the suspects forced the lock.” The lock has been secured and will be reinforced, he added.
The suspects could face federal charges if apprehended due the U.S. Coast Guard’s involvement with the search. It is hopeful that the coast guard’s involvement in the investigation could expedite it.
Dangerous storms ripped through the area hours later, causing widespread damage and destruction. “We put our officers in harm’s way and the coast guard officers in harm’s way.”
The Hart Area Fire Department and Silver Lake State Park DNR staff also responded to assist.
If anyone has information about the case, they are asked to contact the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office at (231) 873-2121.
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