Missing Fisherman, May 17

USCG release – GRAYS HARBOR, Wash. — The Coast Guard suspended the search Friday, May 14 for a 47-year-old man who reportedly fell overboard while underway fishing for halibut 28 miles northwest of Grays Harbor.  Missing is Jason LaBrie of Oregon City, Oregon. Fishermen aboard the 26-foot vessel Defiance II activated an emergency position indicating radio beacon after realizing LaBrie was missing. Coast Guard watchstanders at the 13th District command center received the alarm at 12:39 p.m. and contacted the vessel crew by telephone to gather more information. At 12:50 p.m., the Coast Guard initiated an urgent marine information radio broadcast notifying all mariners in the area. A Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew responded, and a Sector Columbia River MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew diverted from other flight operations. At 1:10 p.m., Coast Guard search and rescue crews were on scene. A Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento HC-27 Spartan airplane crew was airborne and en route, and the Coast Guard Cutter Elm and crew diverted from a living marine resources mission at approximately 3:30 p.m. to assist with the search. The Coast Guard saturated an area of approximately 244 square miles, completing 18 searches over more than 22 hours.