Potter Valley man’s body found in Russian River

NORTH COAST, Calif. — Mendocino County officials are investigating the death of a Potter Valley man whose body was found on Friday in the Russian River.

Authorities identified the man as Joshua Scott Freeman, 45, a life-long Mendocino County resident.

Sgt. Jay Vanoven of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said that just after 10 a.m. Friday, Mendocino County Sheriff's Office patrol personnel responded to the area of the Russian River near Norgard Lane to investigate a report of a body discovered in the river.

Deputies, community service officers, and a patrol sergeant arrived in the area and met with personnel from the Ukiah Police Department. Freeman’s body was found resting against a tree, still partially submerged in the swift-moving water, Vanoven said.

Vanoven said personnel from Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Little Lake Fire District and Hopland Fire Protection District were summoned to assist with recovering Freeman's body.

A swift water response team deployed and recovered the body from the river. Vanoven said law enforcement personnel recognized the individual as Freeman.

No obvious signs of foul play were observed, Vanoven said.

On Saturday, Vanoven said an active coroner's investigation was underway to determine the classification and cause of Freeman's death. At that point, a forensic autopsy was pending for the coroner's investigation.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086, or the anonymous tip line at 707-234-2100.

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