News release from the Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office. On 06-29-2014 at about 6:20 pm, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a capsized boat in the South Slough Estuary near Charleston with a person in the water yelling for help. Coos County Sheriff’s Deputies and members of the United States Coast Guard, Charleston Boat Station responded to the location where they located three people in the water. Two of the male subjects, 59 year old Coos Bay resident Gary S. Dudley, and 28 year old Jarred Yokum, both of Coos Bay, had stayed with the capsized boat and were rescued by the Coast Guard helicopter crew from the North Bend Air Station and were transported to Bay Area Hospital by the helicopter. The 3rd male subject, 32 year old Troy Davis, of Myrtle Point, was picked up by the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Marine boat and taken to shore. It was determined that Mr. Davis was currently on Probation and in violation of that probation by being under the influence. He was arrested and transported to the Coos County Jail on a Probation Violation. From the investigation it appears the three male subjects and two dogs were in a very small boat traveling up the South Slough Estuary when it capsized. It was found that 2 of the subjects were trying to exchange positions in the boat which caused the boat to flip over. Two of the subject had life preservers on, Mr. Dudley did not. Mr. Dudley was later transported to OSHU for his injuries, (possibly sand and water in his lungs), Mr. Yokum was treated for hypothermia and released from the hospital. Mr. Davis was not injured.
