While its investigation into the death of a 7-year-old continues, the Two Rivers Police Department is continuing to encourage residents to avoid the ice on any body of water.
Jacob Baer’s body was found by DNR search crews in what was estimated to be five to six feet of water in the West Twin River.
Captain Andrew Raatz tells SeehaferNews.com that even though it was very cold over the weekend, the ice on the Twin Rivers remains very spotty.
“There is ice in places where an adult male, for instance, could stand on and be fine, but another foot over from that and is super thin,” he noted. “It’s very unstable, even in areas where it is iced over. (It’s) not advisable at all for anyone to be on the ice.”
Typically, as the temperatures get lower for longer periods of time, the ice on bodies of water will get thicker, but as the DNR notes on its Ice Safety website, there is “no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.”
Captain Raatz agreed, specifically noting how rivers differ from standing water.
“The problem with the rivers especially is you have a constant flow of water,” he explained. “So it’s not like in a stagnant lake where it might ice over quicker. You know, we have that constant movement which prevents ice from forming as rapidly.”
The DNR suggests that anyone who plans on going on any ice this winter dress warm and in layers.
They also suggest avoiding inlets that may have current that can thin the ice, looking for clear ice, which is generally stronger than ice with snow on it or bubbles in it, and carrying some essential safety gear.
This includes ice claws or picks, a cell phone in a waterproof bag or case, a life jacket and a length of rope.
We asked Captain Raatz if any charges may be coming from the investigation, to which he said he could not comment.
