Search on for Mercer Island man after boat washes ashore in Kirkland

A search on Lake Washington is underway for a missing Mercer Island man, after his boat was found running ashore in Kirkland, unoccupied, on Friday night.

A search on Lake Washington is underway for a missing Mercer Island man, after his boat was found running ashore in Kirkland, unoccupied, on Friday night.

The King County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation on Friday night when a Kirkland resident along Lake Ave. West called police about a boat drifting to the shore.

After inspecting the boat, deputies found the boat is owned by Richard Sweezey, who lives on Mercer Island. Other paperwork indicated the boat is moored at a marina in Portage Bay, where deputies found Sweezey’s vehicle, but not Sweezey.

King County Sheriff Officers, the U.S. Coast Guard and Seattle Police Marine Patrol have searched Lake Washington in the area between the marina and where the boat was found in Kirkland, but did not find any signs of Sweezey.

Anyone who may have seen the boat or who has information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (206) 296-3311.