Multiple agencies looked for 90 minutes before search terminated
FAIRFIELD -- A report of a boat capsized Tuesday on the Passaic River, which is currently just inches deep in places, has been "deemed a hoax," Deputy Chief of Police Anthony Manna said in a statement.
The U.S. Coast Guard received a radio transmission just before 4 p.m. from someone claiming that the boat overturned in the Lincoln Park-Fairfield area with an adult, three children and a dog aboard. The Coast Guard contacted the State Police, who called Fairfield, Manna said.
Local police as well as officers from Wayne and Lincoln Park searched the banks and then requested boats from the Little Falls and the other communities' fire departments, while a State Police boat and helicopter also arrived in the area.
The extensive search was ended in about 90 minutes, however, after no sign of a boat was found in the river, whose current was weak Tuesday afternoon and where the water was no more than six feet deep.
Manna said a similar incident occurred three years ago this month, when the Coast Guard station in Staten Island received a radio transmission from someone reporting that an occupied boat was sinking in the Passaic River. That report was also unfounded, Manna said.
"Unfortunately, incidents like this one need to be thoroughly investigated in the event what was reported was true. We are happy that no one was in fact in need of assistance. But once it is verified and deemed a hoax, it is an absolute waste of taxpayer money and it tied up emergency resources from several municipalities and the state for no reason," Manna said.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police t at 973-227-1400. Calls remain confidential.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook
