Man Drowns at Alabama Coushatta Reservation, LIVINGSTON, October 5, 2009 - At approximately 3:30 pm on October 4, 2009, the Polk County Sheriff's Office was summoned to the Alabama Coushatta Reservation in reference to a possible drowning. Campers staying at the reservation camp grounds on Lake Tom Big Bee reportedly found someone floating in the lake. The victim was identified as 43 year old Ismael Valdez, a resident of Houston. Valdez had been staying at the camp grounds with some friends. Valdez was reported missing on the morning of October 4th, 2009 and was found in the lake later that afternoon. Valdez was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 David Johnson and sent to Jefferson County Morgue for an autopsy. Preliminarily, evidence suggests that the incident was an accidental drowning pending the final autopsy report. Foul play is not suspected.
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