BYFIELD — The man who drowned in the Parker River on Thursday evening, 54-year-old David Harwood, had an active warrant for his arrest, according to local police.
Police, along with a SWAT team, attempted to arrest Harwood at his 21R Forest St. home on Jan. 3 but he had fled the scene before police arrived.
“Newbury police officials had no contact with Harwood and were not actively pursuing him, nor were police aware of his presence in town at the time of his untimely death,” a Newbury police spokesperson wrote in a release.
Technology resources showed that Harwood was in another community, and police there were notified.
Due to the condition of the home, Newbury Inspectional Services were notified and the house was condemned. Newbury police had no contact with Harwood or his immediate family since Jan. 3, and the warrant remained active, according to police.
The connection to the failed arrest was revealed hours after the Essex County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Harwood was the man trapped for hours on the shore of the Parker River before personnel were able to extricate him. By the time rescuers got to him, however, he had drowned.
It was not until positive identification was made early Friday morning that police became aware that Harwood was the victim. Newbury police immediately worked with the Essex County District Attorney’s Office to make appropriate next-of-kin notifications.
“The criminal investigation is closed. The Newbury Police Department offers its sincere condolences to the family. The Newbury Police Department also expresses its appreciation to residents for their patience and cooperation during the rescue and recovery efforts late Thursday and early Friday morning,” the release reads.
Witnesses saw Harwood entangled in brush in the Parker River, in the area of Forest and River streets and alerted authorities. One of the bystanders attempted to enter the river to reach Harwood but was unable to do so due to the rapid-moving current. The bystander was given medical treatment and released.
Witnesses then saw him go under the water which is when it is believed he drowned.
“The incident remains under investigation by the Newbury Police Department and members of the Essex County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective Unit, but foul play is not suspected at this time,” a DA’s Office spokesperson wrote.
Newbury police Chief Patty Fisher said she did not know why Harwood was back in Byfield or what he was trying to do by the river.
“We suspected he was back in the area attempting to get items out of the home, but cannot verify that,” Fisher said.
Emergency personnel from multiple communities responded to the Parker River shortly after 6:30 p.m. after learning that a man had been caught in the river’s high, rapid current, according to a release issued Thursday by Fisher and Newbury Fire Chief David Evans.
Among those called in to assist were Northeast Ambulance, Atlantic Ambulance, Cataldo Ambulance, Cataldo Rehab, West Newbury Fire, Georgetown Fire, Merrimac Fire, Lawrence Fire, the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Beverly Fire Dive/Rescue Team, the chiefs said.
First responders from other area communities were also on hand, including those from Newburyport and Amesbury.
Lawrence Fire Lt. Paul King went to the Parker River Thursday night to help rescue the drowning victim who was trapped.
King is a member of specially-trained technical rescue team that is activated for certain emergencies, said Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty.
Technical rescue team members rigged a line high over the river with a boat affixed underneath. They assisted divers locating the body which was trapped in the fast-moving river, Moriarty said.
He said King and other technical rescue team members train rigorously each month to keep their skills sharp for when such incidents arise. King was among 15 of the team members, along with divers and other first responders, that responded.
Eagle-Tribune reporter Jill Harmacinski contributed to this story.
Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.