DES MOINES – An Iowa man recently drowned in downtown Des Moines in the Raccoon River, clogged with debris.
The Des Moines Police Department Metro STAR Dive Team is initiated a recovery effort after a presumed drowning incident on the Raccoon River. On July 12, 2024, at approximately 10:52 AM, Des Moines Police Department patrol officers and the
Des Moines Fire Department Water Emergency Team responded to investigate a report of a person in the Raccoon River, near SW 2nd Street, who appeared to be struggling. Witnesses reported that at approximately 10:58 AM, the person went below the surface of the water and did not reappear.
Recovery efforts had to temporarily suspended due to risks associated with debris and water flow rate.
On July 13, 2024, at approximately 8:43 PM, Des Moines Police Department patrol officers and Des Moines Fire Department personnel responded to the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers to investigate a report of a body in the water.
Officers arrived at approximately 8:45 PM, and at approximately 8:53 PM, they observed a deceased person in the Des Moines River at the SE 6th Street bridge.
The Des Moines Fire Department Water Emergency Team responded to assist and recovered the body of a deceased male adult. Preliminary observations indicate that this person was the subject of the rescue & recovery efforts on the Raccoon River on July 12, 2024. The deceased person recovered from the river has been identified as 39-year-old Des Moines
resident Christopher Lee Sheets. Des Moines Police Department detectives and the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office are continuing this investigation.