2 Men Drown In Seperate Oakland Co. Incidents: Sheriff

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Two Oakland County men drowned in separate incidents over the Fourth of July weekend, according to the sheriff's office.

Officials said the first drowning happened at White Lake in Highland Township at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Officials said 49-year-old Jason Dwane Brookshire, a White Lake resident, was on a boat and jumped into the lake near the 3400 block of Jackson Boulevard. He was not wearing a lifejacket and never resurfaced, officials said.

Roughly seven hours later, divers found his body in seven feet of water and vegetation, about 100 feet from shore, officials said.

Officials do not know why Brookshire jumped into the lake, but they do believe alcohol played a role in the incident.

Less than 12 hours later, officials were called to the 8400 block of Rattalee Lake in Clarkston on a report of a missing man at 4 a.m. Sunday, officials said.

The caller said 86-year-old Gerald Vernus Burge, of Springfield Township, was last seen at 5 p.m. Saturday, officials said.

The caller said Burge had dementia and that his girlfriend noticed his swim trunks were missing from his house, officials said.

Officials searched the property, including a pond where they found Burge's body in roughly seven feet of water.

"This has been an extremely busy and tragic weekend for our search and rescue team and our partners," Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement. "Sadly, all the information we had put out in advance of this weekend about ways to stay safe could’ve prevented these tragedies. I am proud of the skilled efforts that recovered these victims, giving the families closure."

Officials were still investigating both drownings and autopsies for both men were scheduled for Monday.