Dive team searches for shooting evidence in south Modesto canal

The Stanislaus County sheriff’s Dive Team on Thursday morning was searching a south Modesto canal for evidence in a shooting investigation.

The Dive Team posted a video on Facebook to inform neighborhood residents what they were doing in the canal.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Lloyd MacKinnon said in the Facebook video the Dive Team is usually called to rescue or search for missing people in local waterways, but they also respond to request to search for evidence that could be under water.

Two divers in “dry suits” walked slowly through the canal’s cold water, which was about waist-high Thursday. MacKinnon said they were searching the canal along Hatch Road between Crows Landing Road and Highway 99.

He said the divers searched with a metal detector and also with the bottom of their feet. The water was somewhat clear, and the divers could feel could feel the cement and the algae at the bottom of the canal.

Investigators received information that there could be a weapon or other evidence in the canal that is connected to the shooting, said sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Royjindar Singh. He said the shooting did not occur recently, and investigators declined to release further information about the shooting fearing it could harm the investigation.

This story was originally published October 12, 2017 at 9:59 AM with the headline "Dive team searches for shooting evidence in south Modesto canal."