Aug. 28—LOOGOOTEE — Daviess County authorities are investigating the death of local man found floating in West Boggs Lake. The Daviess County Sheriff's Department was called around 1:15 p.m. to a private dock on Upper South Pointe Circle after a friend discovered the body of Jerry Shadle, 77.

Deputies report that when they arrived they found Shadle face down in shallow water near the dock.

"We do not know how long he had been in the water when he was found," said Daviess County Sheriff Gary Allison. "It appeared he had been intending to fish. His tackle and bait were still on the dock, but the chair was overturned on the dock."

Authorities say Shadle appeared to have been home alone when he went into the water.

"We don't know if he had a heart attack and fell in or if he tripped and fell into the water. He had some health issues that could have led to either thing happening," said Allison. "We saw no indications of foul play and do not believe there was any involved in his death."

West Boggs Lake has been hit with an algae bloom and officials have closed it to swimming, but Allison says that did not play a part in the death.

"He wasn't swimming. The toxic algae had nothing to do with it," said Allison. "We did have a couple of deputies go into the water to recover the body. They quickly went and washed off the lake water."

An investigation into Shadle's death is still underway.

"We will know more once the autopsy is completed and the coroner's report is in," said Allison.

The sheriff's department, coroner's office and Indiana Conservation Officers all worked the scene and are still looking into the death.

Additional agencies responding to the scene and assisting in the recovery were the Cannelburg Volunteer Fire Department, Montgomery Volunteer Fire Department and the Daviess Community Hospital Ambulance Service.