4. Hometown Hard News

Drowning of Retired Columbia County Sheriff in Lake Columbia
From Magnolia Reporter

Lake Columbia

Freddie Sargent of Magnolia, Arkansas, and retired Columbia County Sheriff drowned Monday, September 22, 2019, at 11:30 in the morning in Lake Columbia. Sargent was out of the lake with one other person in the boat with him when the boat capsized midway between where it was taking off into the water of the Maurice Lewis Landing and of the north shore of the lake, and the south shore landing.

Willie Brownlee was the man with Sargent that survived the incident and accounted that the bilge pump on the boat quit on them and this prompted the boat to take off full speed across the lake. This resulted in the boat flipping over and thus causing the boat to fully sink.

Sheriff Freddie Sargent

Across the way, some other people were also in their boat and saw the entire accident and actually reported it to Central Dispatch. The Sheriff's Office rescue boat entered the scene shortly after and many deputies hurried to attempt to rescue Sargent and Brownlee. Brownlee was not able to be put into a boat, but he was secured and towed to the Maurice Lewis landing and shortly after he was pulled ashore, he was immediately taken to the Magnolia Regional Medical Center, escorted by the Columbia County Ambulance Service.

A sheriff presumably reported that whilst Sargent was in the water, he was neither breathing nor was he responsive. They did perform CPR on Sargent in the boat on the way to taking him to shore. Not long after Sargent arrived at Magnolia Regional Medical Center was Sargent declared deceased.

It was only three short years ago that Freddie Sargent retired from the Sheriff's office. He served Columbia County for 16 years.

Lake Columbia is a small lake right outside of Magnolia, Arkansas, where a lot of locals like to spend time swimming, fishing, and in general socializing. There has not been a reported drowning before yesterday since October 2012. Columbia County as a whole can hope we do not see another drowning here for years and years to come or even ever again. Freddie Sargent's family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.

Original Article: 

http://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/local_news/article_c91afed0-de37-11e9-9024-dfd2b6437314.html