Body of Downing man found in Glen Lake

GLENWOOD CITY — The body of a 63-year-old Downing man, missing since May 9th, was found in Glen Lake on Wednesday, May 13.

According to St. Croix County Chief Deputy Scott Knutson, Dunn County officials contacted St. Croix County shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday, May 11 for a welfare check and a man who was reported as suicidal.

Checking cell phone records, the Sheriff’s department learned that the last phone activity was on May 9th and using phone tracking, they located the man’s vehicle in the Glen Lake Park parking lot at the end of Thompson Lane.

Three deputies from the Sheriff’s Department and members of the Glenwood City Fire Department were called to Glen Park and searched the park grounds until dark. The search resumed on Tuesday morning with more help from the Sheriff’s department and from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, who came with a boat. That search was called off later in the day.

On Wednesday morning additional help was received from the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and Washington County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Department with search dogs and a sidsmar locator to detect objects under water.

About noon on Wednesday the devise located the body near the dam in about fifteen feet of water and drivers retrieved the body and it was taken for an autopsy and the report indicated that the cause of death was from “fresh water drowning.”

The victim has been identify as James Michels, 63 of Downing.

No foul play is suspected.