Man, 20, Drowns While Swimming In Oakland County Lake: Police

ROSE TOWNSHIP, MI — A 20-year-old year man drowned while swimming in an Oakland County lake over the weekend, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Police said Marsalis Quintin Carter, of Detroit and Tuskegee, Alabama, jumped off the side of a pontoon boat into Taylor Lake, which is in Rose Township, at 11:07 a.m. Saturday and never resurfaced.

Dive teams found Carter's body about 300 feet from the shore, in 35 feet of water roughly 13 hours later at 12:30 a.m. Sunday after searching for more than 13 hours, according to the sheriff's office.

Officials had to use sonar equipment because of poor visibility in the lake, according to the sheriff's office.

An autopsy determined Carter drowned, according to the sheriff's office.

Police said Carter was part of a moving crew that was helping a Rose Township resident move. The crew asked the homeowner if they could take a break and take the pontoon boat out to cool off on the water, according to the sheriff's office.

The homeowner took the crew out onto the lake where Carter and another jumped off the side of the boat into the water, according to the sheriff's office.

One man returned to the boat, while Carter never resurfaced, according to the sheriff's office.

"I encourage people to have a personal flotation device on if they are not strong swimmers when they get in the lake, as we have had numerous drownings this summer in similar situations," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "Even if you are a strong swimmer and have been drinking alcohol, it's a good idea as well."