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06-13-2010, 01:27 PM
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Deputy Drowns Trying To Rescue Dog
Deputy Swept Away In Baytown Canal
POSTED: Friday, June 11, 2010
UPDATED: 4:27 pm CDT June 11, 2010
BAYTOWN, Texas -- The body of a Harris County sheriff's deputy was found in a canal in Baytown after he tried to rescue his dog, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.
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(http://www.click2houston.com/news/23867591/detail.html#)Deputy Eddy Wotipka
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WATCH IT: http://www.click2houston.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/post/video.gifDeputy's Body Found After 5 Hour Search (http://www.click2houston.com/video/23874439/index.html)
WATCH IT:http://www.click2houston.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/post/video.gifDeputy Drowns During Dog Rescue (http://www.click2houston.com/video/23870492/index.html)
According to the sheriff's department, Deputy Eddy Wotipka, 51, was returning home from his shift Thursday night when neighbors told him there were dogs playing near the canal in the 6000 block of West Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Road near Thompson Road.
Wotipka's own English bulldog then fell in the canal, officials said.
Witnesses said the deputy jumped in the canal still dressed in his uniform to retrieve his pet. He began having trouble and his wife tried to save him, officials said.
"That current is very bad. As soon as he got up and asked for help, he went right back down under," witness Karen Watkins said.
Neighbors were able to rescue the wife, but Wotipka was swept away by the current.
"He held on to that dog. He never let go of the dog," said Donna Watkins, who helped rescue the deputy's wife. "There was nothing we could do to help him. But we knew if she hung on, we could help her."
"I had used my truck and some rope to pull her out. That current is very strong," said Steve Watkins.
After an all-night search, his body was recovered shortly after 5 a.m. approximately 100 to 150 feet from where he jumped in.
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"The deputy had removed his radio and weapon before jumping into the water," said Christina Garza with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
"Our dive team had difficulty in locating the body or even maintaining themselves in the water, so it wasn't easy, and unfortunately took the life of one of our own," said an HPD spokesman.
The dog also drowned.
Fina Rodriguez works at Daniel's Meat Market near the deputy's house. She said Wotipka was a friendly man during his frequent visits. She was not surprised by his heroic actions.
"He was trying to protect his dog. I would've done the same thing. Animals are like kids," Rodriguez said.
Residents said the water is between 15 and 20 feet in some parts of the canal.
Wotipka had been with the sheriff's office since 1993. He worked as a patrol deputy in District 3 out of the Harris County Sheriff's Office on Wallisville at Purple Sage.
Deputies have been at the family's home since the tragedy occurred.
"They're all devastated. They're all brothers," Donna Watkins said.
He is survived by his wife, Karen, and two children, 24 and 26 years old.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
I'm so sorry for his family
Deputy Drowns Trying To Rescue Dog
Deputy Swept Away In Baytown Canal
POSTED: Friday, June 11, 2010
UPDATED: 4:27 pm CDT June 11, 2010
BAYTOWN, Texas -- The body of a Harris County sheriff's deputy was found in a canal in Baytown after he tried to rescue his dog, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.
http://www.click2houston.com/images/structures/buttons/button_enlarge.gif
http://www.click2houston.com/2010/0611/23869445_240X135.jpg
(http://www.click2houston.com/news/23867591/detail.html#)Deputy Eddy Wotipka
SEE IT: Slideshow (javascript:popUp('/slideshow/news/23869666/detail.html','width=1024,height=750,top=0,left=0,s crollbars');)
WATCH IT: http://www.click2houston.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/post/video.gifDeputy's Body Found After 5 Hour Search (http://www.click2houston.com/video/23874439/index.html)
WATCH IT:http://www.click2houston.com/sh/images/ibs_icon/post/video.gifDeputy Drowns During Dog Rescue (http://www.click2houston.com/video/23870492/index.html)
According to the sheriff's department, Deputy Eddy Wotipka, 51, was returning home from his shift Thursday night when neighbors told him there were dogs playing near the canal in the 6000 block of West Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Road near Thompson Road.
Wotipka's own English bulldog then fell in the canal, officials said.
Witnesses said the deputy jumped in the canal still dressed in his uniform to retrieve his pet. He began having trouble and his wife tried to save him, officials said.
"That current is very bad. As soon as he got up and asked for help, he went right back down under," witness Karen Watkins said.
Neighbors were able to rescue the wife, but Wotipka was swept away by the current.
"He held on to that dog. He never let go of the dog," said Donna Watkins, who helped rescue the deputy's wife. "There was nothing we could do to help him. But we knew if she hung on, we could help her."
"I had used my truck and some rope to pull her out. That current is very strong," said Steve Watkins.
After an all-night search, his body was recovered shortly after 5 a.m. approximately 100 to 150 feet from where he jumped in.
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http://www.click2houston.com/2010/0611/23868476_240X135.jpg
(http://www.click2houston.com/news/23867591/detail.html#)
"The deputy had removed his radio and weapon before jumping into the water," said Christina Garza with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
"Our dive team had difficulty in locating the body or even maintaining themselves in the water, so it wasn't easy, and unfortunately took the life of one of our own," said an HPD spokesman.
The dog also drowned.
Fina Rodriguez works at Daniel's Meat Market near the deputy's house. She said Wotipka was a friendly man during his frequent visits. She was not surprised by his heroic actions.
"He was trying to protect his dog. I would've done the same thing. Animals are like kids," Rodriguez said.
Residents said the water is between 15 and 20 feet in some parts of the canal.
Wotipka had been with the sheriff's office since 1993. He worked as a patrol deputy in District 3 out of the Harris County Sheriff's Office on Wallisville at Purple Sage.
Deputies have been at the family's home since the tragedy occurred.
"They're all devastated. They're all brothers," Donna Watkins said.
He is survived by his wife, Karen, and two children, 24 and 26 years old.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
I'm so sorry for his family