Rescuers Search Avon Lake Beach After Call of Possible Missing Swimmer

Just weeks after a at Miller Road Park, police and fire personnel were called to the east side of the Miller Road pier after several women thought they saw a man swimming, and not resurface.

“We got a call about 10:05 p.m.,” Lt. Chris Huerner said. “There were ladies on the pier who saw what they though was a male swimming and then they didn’t see him.”

The women contacted authorities.

According to a police report, two witnesses reported that they saw what appeared to be a male swimming in the area just east of the fishing pier. They stated that they no longer could see the male and that he was a long distance from the beach.

An immediate search of the area was conducted from the shoreline. Police had not received any reports of a missing individual in the area.

By 11 p.m., the western portion of the park was filled with police and fire vehicles, however, Huerner said there was no confirmation that there was a missing person. Six members of the Avon Lake Fire Department and three Sheffield Lake fire department personnel helped in the search including Avon Lake’s top diver, Steve Peter. Six officers also responded as did a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and boat.

Huerner said if rescue personnel were certain there was a missing person, or someone called in a missing individual, the search would continue.

“It was dark when we got a call,” Huerner said. “We searched the beach and park, there were no bicycles, keys, wallet or indication someone had been there.”

The lake conditions Monday evening were described as "treacherous." 

The search effort was suspended at 1 a.m. due to the lake conditions and the uncertainty of a victim.

Avon Lake Police Lt. Duane Streator confirmed that there was no indication a person was missing. He said the area would be checked throughout the night.

On July 31, 17-year-old Daryle Phoeur of Cleveland drowned after trying to rescue his 24-year-old cousin near the eastern part of the area by the GenOn power plant. The teen was

The area has seen numerous drownings in the past five years.

A press release issued at 12:45 p.m. said that at the time of the call there were only a few other people at the park and no one had been reported missing. A search of the park was also completed in an attempt to determine if anyone was missing or had left a vehicle or property at the park. 

Please contact police

Police are asking that if anyone has any information on a missing person that would have possible been at the park to contact the Avon Lake Police Department at 440-933-4567.