Police are trying to find Rev. Stephen Rooney and one other man after their boat capsized Sunday evening within the Detroit River.
GROSSE ILE – Police are trying to find a former Monroe priest and one other man after their boat carrying practically 15 passengers capsized Sunday evening within the Detroit River.
The Rev. Stephen Rooney, 66, former pastor of Our Girl of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Temperance, and St. Michael Catholic Church, Monroe, stays lacking after his watercraft hit a wake off Stoney Island and flipped about 7:30 p.m. Sunday close to Grosse Ile, in line with experiences from the Grosse Ile Police Division.
Additionally lacking is Robert Timothy Chiles, 52, of Grosse Ile. Chiles, a longtime parishoner whose spouse took her personal life within the river final September, was driving the boat, authorities mentioned.
Police reported that 14 passengers – 9 adults and 5 kids – have been on board a 2017 39-foot Nortec Heart Console when the vessel rolled and the passengers have been ejected, in line with preliminary investigation. A boater from Ontario, Canada, reportedly witnessed the accident and assisted a lot of the passengers.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, the Downriver Dive Workforce and Wayne County Sheriff’s Workplace Marine Division looked for Father Rooney and Chiles Sunday evening till darkness made situations unsafe to proceed. The Canadian Coast Guard additionally responded to the search which continues as we speak.
In 2018, Father Rooney was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Trenton, by Archbishop Allen Vigneron from the Archdiocese of Detroit, the place he presently serves.
He additionally previously served as pastor of Our Girl on the River Parish in Marine Metropolis.
“It’s with nice disappointment that we share that Father Stephen Rooney, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Trenton, is lacking together with longtime parishioner Robert Chiles after a ship capsized yesterday night within the Detroit River, off Stoney Island,” mentioned The Archdiocese of Detroit Communications Division in a press release.
“A number of others have been rescued from the water by a Good Samaritan close by. Allow us to unite collectively in prayer for the lacking, for the rescued, and for first responders looking the waters as we speak.
“Right now, we ask for privateness for the parish and the households of these concerned. The Archdiocese will share extra info because it turns into out there.”
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The capsizing stays below investigation.
For info, contact Grosse Ile Police Lt. Kenneth Pelland at 676-7100.