Capsized canoe nearly leads to criminal charges

A canoe trip turned perilous last weekend for two men who ventured onto Fernan Lake to do some fishing.

It also almost resulted in criminal charges against one of the men.

Kootenai County Sheriff's deputies responded Saturday afternoon to a home near Fernan Lake for a report of a capsized boat and possible drowning.

When they arrived at the home, the deputies reportedly found the front door partially open. They entered the house and found the person who called 911 in the shower trying to get warm. The man, who did not live in the house, told the deputies he was too cold to leave the shower and said another man was still on the shore of the lake, unable to get up the bank.

He told the deputies his only intention in entering the residence was to save his life and call 911.

The deputies found the other occupant of the canoe standing below a steep bank about 250 yards south of the home. According to their report, the man appeared unable to move without pain. He told the deputies he had been in the water for at least 30 minutes. He was given a blanket and was assisted by paramedics.

A citizen with a pontoon boat transported the man and the paramedics to the lake's east boat launch. Deputies also transferred the man who was in the home to the boat launch. The men were both checked by paramedics and medically released.

One of the men told the deputies he did not feel it would be dangerous to take the canoe out, despite significant wind chop on the lake. He also reportedly said he drank about two ounces of whiskey from a flask prior to launching the canoe.

Deputies reported that the men were on the water about 15 minutes before the canoe capsized and they were thrown overboard.

A member of the homeowner's family was on the scene and told the deputies the 911 caller did not have permission to be in the home. The family member said the homeowner wanted to press charges. But upon hearing the circumstances of the unlawful entry from the deputies, the homeowner declined, but asked that a report be filed.

The family member estimated the damage to the homeowner's front door would cost $2,000 to repair.