CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Mecklenburg Police are working to learn the circumstances surrounding a drowning death after police rescued a man from Lake Wylie early Saturday morning.
Police say around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, officers attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle on Walkers Ferry Road. Officials say the vehicle did not stop and sped away from the scene.
In a news release, CMPD says officers did not chase the vehicle, but found it a short distance later still on Walkers Ferry Road. While investigating, police said they heard someone was yelling for help in Lake Wylie.
Officers jumped into the lake and pulled 35 year old Steve Smith Ibarra out to begin life-saving efforts. CMPD says Ibarra was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Two officers were also transported to the hospital and have since been released, police said.
This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 704-432-TIPS (8477) or call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
