On the evening of 07/16/2016 Coos County Sheriff’s Deputies began looking for 50 year old, Coos Bay resident, Steven Charles Long. At 10:30 PM Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area on Cape Arago Hwy, south of Coos Bay near Tarheel Reservoir and the Plainview RV Park, after receiving a call about an intoxicated female looking for her husband. Deputies responded and contacted 33 year old Coos Bay resident Laila Long, who reported that she had lost her husband, Steven, and was looking for him in the area of the Tarheel Reservoir. She reported that she could not find him and when she would call his phone it would just go to voicemail. The Sheriff’s Deputy was able to make contact with a male subject who answered Mr. Long’s phone and advised that Steven Long was down at the lake and was passed out. Sheriff’s Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate Mr. Long. Monday and Tuesday Sheriff’s Deputies and Tribal Officers searched the area. On Tuesday evening at 6:12 PM a body was reported to be seen in the water at the reservoir, Coquille Tribal Officers responded and was able to see a body in the water at Tarheel Reservoir. With the assistance of Coquille Tribal Police, Charleston Fire, a Dive Team from Bandon Fire, and the Coos County Medical Examiner’s Office the body was recovered from the water. Preliminary evidence identified the body as Steven Long and suggests the cause of death as drowning. The Coos County Medical Examiner’s Office is continuing investigating the cause of death but at this time their does not appear to be any evidence of foul play.
