JUSTINTIME2.COM

Dispatched Wednesday evening for a man missing in the Nooksack river. Limited daylight allowed for only a couple of dives before discontinuing operations and returning the next morning. We had a good last seen point, which is rare,  from the officers who saw him drown. Once again this trecherous river claimed another victim and we were unsucessfull in a recovery for the family. The difficulties and dangers of diving this river are numerous and include swift current, zero visibility, cold water temps, water contaminations and a high number underwater debris/snags. The following articles and pictures are from the Bellingham Herald and the Dive Rescue Team.

Jayson David Morris, Jumped into Nooksack River on Wednesday

PUBLIC SAFETY

Man on run feared drowned

Lummi man vanishes in Nooksack

SERENA LEI
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

A 25-year-old Lummi man running from tribal police apparently drowned in the Nooksack River, reportedly after police told fishermen in the area not to pull him from the water.

Jayson David Morris was running from Lummi law enforcement Wednesday afternoon when he jumped into the east side of the river near Marine Drive.

"The police said not to go and help him," said fisherman Floyd Noland, Morris' uncle, who was on a boat in the river at the time. "I believe it was negligent."

Aaron Thomas, spokesman for Lummi Nation, said police were responding to a 1:45 p.m. call near the Nooksack River when they saw Morris.

He ran, jumped in the river, and then "it became a rescue mission," Thomas said. "All we know is that Jayson went under the water and never resurfaced. The case is still under investigation."

Noland tells a different story.

"I heard a splash and looked over and saw (Morris) swimming out into the middle of the river," Noland said. "My nephew started calling for me to come out and get him."

But with Morris about 60 feet from Noland's boat, the motor failed to start.

"I started screaming 'Get him! Get him!' I took off my clothes and jumped in and tried to get him," Noland said.

Noland dove to the bottom of the river and then rushed back up for air. Noland saw another fisherman jump in as he watched his nephew sink.

"I saw him go down," Noland said. "I heard him asking me to help. He was saying 'Uncle, come get me,' and he just disappeared."

THE SEARCH

Search and rescue divers from the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office scoured the river for Morris at the request of Lummi police, said Sheriff's Deputy Mark Jilk, search and rescue coordinator.

Divers had only a half-hour of sunlight to work with on Wednesday, and resumed their search for six hours on Thursday.

"Divers feel they have done as thorough a search in the area as possible," Jilk said.

There are no plans to continue recovery efforts, he said, but the final say is in the hands of Lummi police.

"If they came to us in the future, and gave us good areas to look at, then of course we'd search again," Jilk said.

This is not the first time Morris has jumped into the river to escape police, family members said.

Morris may have escaped arrest at least three times by swimming across the river, even as recently as last month, they said.

Morris was convicted of felony theft in 2001, residential burglary in 2002 and arrested on investigation of a drug violation in July. The tribal spokesman said Morris was wanted for violating parole.

"He was into drugs and got into trouble over burglary," said Al Noland Sr., Morris' father. "As far as I know, he's been trying to get out of it."

WAITING FOR NEWS

A makeshift camp formed on the west bank of the Nooksack River Thursday.

Family members huddled over a fire, waiting for someone to find Morris' body. A few Lummi police stood nearby.

Pickup trucks rolled in, etching deep grooves into the dark gray mud, as more family and friends showed up to offer support and supplies - propane for the coffee pot, water, cigarettes and blankets.

Some had been there since Wednesday night, sleeping in tents.

"I'm not leaving here until my son's body is found," said Sandra Morris, Jayson's mother. "I can't think of doing anything. I can't go anywhere. That's all I want right now."

Darrell Hillaire, Lummi Nation chairman, visited the campsite early Thursday to console family members.

"The chairman is saying his heart goes out to the family," Thomas said.

Quietly, family members swapped accounts from witnesses and questioned the behavior of tribal police.

"I was really angry with the way they were going about things," Al Noland Sr. said. "Nobody's talked to me."

Jayson's uncle, Ron Noland Sr., believes police knew his nephew would jump in the water and were counting on it.

"Just on all accounts, they were completely derelict in what they were doing," said family friend Jeffrey Pierce. "They chose to ignore the coldness of the water. When you know you're going to cause harm, that's culpability."

In the afternoon, Robert Morris, another of Jayson's uncles, gathered the group in a circle to address family and police.

"I apologize to you gentlemen, for the feelings we had," Robert said, addressing tribal officers. "We have to work together now, be united."

The words were a solace to Jayson's stepmother Audrey Noland.

"It kind of lifts the anger," she said. "It helps to unite us."

Reporter Kira Millage helped with this report. Reach Serena Lei at serena.lei@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2264

River search continues for missing man

FBI investigates allegations of police misconduct

SERENA LEI
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Lummi police are still searching for the body of a 25-year-old Lummi man one week after he apparently drowned in the Nooksack River.

Jayson David Morris, who was wanted on a warrant, was running from Lummi police officers on Nov. 16 when he jumped into the east side of the river near Marine Drive.

Police and fishermen said Morris disappeared under the water.

A witness claims police told fishermen in the area not to help Morris. Lummi Police Chief Gary James said officers tried to rescue Morris.

The FBI is conducting a preliminary investigation into the allegations of police misconduct. Investigations are considered standard practice after misconduct is publicly alleged, said FBI Special Agent James Powers.

The Lummi Indian Business Council, Lummi Nation's governing body, is waiting for the FBI report and is not planning to conduct an internal investigation, said spokesman Aaron Thomas.

RECOVERY EFFORTS

Search and rescue divers working with the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office searched the river Nov. 16 and 17 at the request of Lummi police but were unable to find Morris.

The river temperature was about 43 degrees when divers started searching, said Sheriff's Deputy Mark Jilk, search and rescue coordinator.

"You're talking some pretty cold water and it was moving right along," Jilk said.

Chris Hemingson, president of Whatcom County Dive Rescue, the volunteer unit that searched for Morris, said divers had about six inches of visibility in the cloudy Nooksack River.

Divers worked with a navigator on a boat to carefully chart the search area and another diver did a second sweep. They could only be underwater for only 12 to 15 minutes because they were using up oxygen quickly fighting a fast current, Hemingson said.

The recovery effort was unique in that eyewitnesses were able to tell divers where Morris was last seen, Jilk said.

"(Morris) was either within that real immediate area ... or essentially anywhere from that point until the Sound," Jilk said. "You simply can't search the entire river. It's not an option. It would take forever and with a river like that, it changes all the time."

Jilk said some bodies are never found.

The river is "full of sunken boats and derelict nets and logs and garbage," he said. "The hazards are numerous so it's very tough to find somebody."

Lummi police are continuing the search as Morris' family and friends, camped out on the west bank of the Nooksack River for a week, continue to wait for news.