Police confirm death by drowning at Lake Nacogdoches on Saturday

On Saturday evening, June 29, shortly after 7 p.m., officers with the Nacogdoches Police Department responded to West Side Park on Lake Nacogdoches after receiving reports of a possible drowning of a man.

Numerous agencies, including the Nacogdoches Fire Department, Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, Texas game wardens and Nacogdoches Police Department participated in the search for the victim.

According to a Facebook post by the NPD, after an extensive search by first responders and civilians on site, the Nacogdoches police and Fire Rescue Dive Team were requested for assistance.

Divers were able to locate the dead victim hours later near where he was last seen underwater. Preliminary information collected at the scene indicates that the victim was swimming with family and friends when last seen.

The victim has been identified as Caleb Arthurs, 37, of Nacogdoches. The Nacogdoches County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace has requested an autopsy. Nacogdoches Police will release additional information at a later date as the investigation is ongoing.

Please pray for Caleb, his family and friends, as well as the first responders and divers.

In 2018, a drowning accident occurred in West Side Park. An 87-year-old man drowned after wading into the water from the shore.

Lake Nacogdoches

The lake has a surface area of ​​over 2,200 acres and is 40 feet at its maximum depth. Lake Nacogdoches is located about 10 miles west of Nacogdoches in the Loco Bayou area.

Lake Nacogdoches was 97.3% full according to the last measurements on June 30.