Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Patrol Central District

Deputy Daniel Nociera
Date of Hire: 2/24/2014

Deputy Tyler Schutz
Date of Hire: 1/9/2012

Deputy Jason Schmittendorf
Date of Hire: 7/18/2005

United States Coast Guard

James R. Shemwell (Injured Boater)
DOB: 9/1/1941
Address: 209 Washington Avenue, Oldsmar

What:
Deputies have rescued a man after his boat ran aground in the Gulf of Mexico off of Redington Beach.

When:
The incident occurred at about 4:51 a.m. on May 1, 2016.

Where:
The incident occurred in the Gulf of Mexico behind The Tides condominiums located at 16750 Gulf Boulevard, Redington Beach.

Why/How:
According to deputies, they received a call from the U.S. Coast Guard requesting that deputies check for a boat that ran aground behind The Tides condominium located at 16750 Gulf Boulevard in Redington Beach.

When deputies arrived, they located the 30 foot sailboat that had run aground.  The vessel was partially capsized about 15-20 feet off the shore of the beach with the engine motor still running.

Deputies say they could hear someone moaning in distress onboard the sailboat.  Deputy Daniel Nociera, Deputy Tyler Schutz, and Deputy Jason Schmittendorf waded out into the waist deep water and found 74-year-old, James Shemwell, clinging to the deck of the boat. Shemwell was disoriented and suffered minor injuries.

Deputies were able to pull Shemwell safely to shore and ensure that no one else was on board the vessel.   

Shemwell informed deputies that he last remembered departing from the Skyway Bridge area.

Deputies believe that impairment may have been a factor.

Shemwell was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation continues.