Mallorytown man charged months after fatal St. Lawrence River boating incident

OPP investigators arrested the 46-year-old on Monday and is being held for a bail hearing.

A Mallorytown man has been charged following a fatal boating incident on the St. Lawrence River earlier this year.

Leeds County OPP say the investigation dates back to April 25, when a 15-foot aluminum boat carrying several people capsized north of Grenadier Island shortly after 10 p.m.

One person was reported missing following the incident.

Leeds 1000 Islands Fire Service later located a person unresponsive in the water.

The 41-year-old Ottawa resident was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

The investigation involved several specialized OPP units, including the Leeds County Crime Unit and Marine Unit, Underwater Search and Recovery Unit and Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team.

Police say the investigation led to the arrest of James Merkley, 46, of Mallorytown on Aug. 31.

Merkley has been charged with causing death by criminal negligence.

He was held in custody pending a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice.

OPP are still asking anyone with information about the April boating incident to contact police.

The charge has not been proven in court.

Story by KingstonDaily.ca Staff

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