Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008

Man found dead at irrigation pond

By Pratik Joshi, Herald staff writer

Eugene Dale Ettles loved to fish at the Kennewick irrigation pond where he was found dead Wednesday.

The 78-year-old Kennewick man may have been searching for his fishing pole in the pond, which is in an orchard in the 2700 block of West 45th Avenue.

He perhaps slipped into the water and couldn't climb out, said Sgt. Mike Genack of the Kennewick Police Department. The area around the fenced pond was slippery, he said.

Ettles' friend and orchard worker Maurilio Lara found his body at 2 p.m.

Rick Corson, Benton County coroner, said no foul play is suspected. He said Ettles died about two to three hours before his body was discovered.

The cause of the death is undetermined, he said. An autopsy is scheduled Friday.

Ettles, who lived nearby on West 41st Ave., fished at the pond for last three years. And he often brought his grandkids along.

Josh Melbihess, 16, an orchard worker, went fishing with Ettles on Saturday. He loved telling stories and said he wasn't afraid of water, Josh said.

"He was a very kind man," he said.

Lara had given Ettles a key to get inside the fence around the pond, he said.

"I saw him (Tuesday)," Lara said, when Ettles brought him some vegetables from his garden.

Ettles was an avid gardener and loved to share the fruits of his labor with friends, Josh said.