Crews Search For Boater Who Disappeared During Midnight Swim

HARRISON TOWNSHIP (WWJ) - The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the search for a missing boater who disappeared during a midnight swim with friends in Lake St. Clair.

Craig Michael Moir, of Winona, Minnesota, was with four other people on a 32 foot Sea Ray cabin-cruiser shortly after 12 a.m. Friday when some of the group decided to jump in the water near Metro Beach, according to Coast Guard Lt. Ben Chamberlin.

"The person in question, he's a 30-year-old male, he was one of four people who jumped in the water and he did not resurface," Chamberlin said live on WWJ Newsradio 950. "The three did resurface -- and there was still one person on the boat as well, so that's how we got the report."

The Macomb County Sheriff's dive team along with search boats with side-scan sonar equipment are searching the lake south of Metro Beach along with the U.S. Coast Guard, which has a patrol boat and helicopter on scene.

"We have not been able to locate the individual at this time, but we continue to search," said Chamberlin. "We're still narrowing down where exactly they may have been to give us the best chance of finding him as possible."

Authorities say there was some confusion about exactly where the group jumped in, but that's not uncommon -- especially when alcohol might be involved.

"Based on our initial report, yes, alcohol was involved," said Chamberlin. "The person who is missing right now, he had a couple of drinks before going in the water."

Family members are aware of the situation and have gathered at the DNR office at the Lake St. Clair Metropark.

"One thing that we as the Coast Guard take very personally and that keeps us going on these cases is that we treat everyone of these search and rescue cases as if it was one of our own family members out there," said Chamberlin. "So, we'll continue to search until we've exhausted all options."

The sheriff's department says it told the occupants of the boat to stay where they were while officers responded to the scene, but the boat operator instead headed to Miller Marina in St. Clair Shores. Sheriff deputies intercepted the boat at the St. Clair Shores marina, where the owner, a 32-year-old St. Clair Shores man, was arrested at the scene for operating while under the influence. He is currently being held in the Macomb County Jail.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.