sluggish river
Maritime Sunday witnesses a somber duty.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The infamous Newtown Creek, at its junction with the East River, flows languidly between Greenpoint in Brooklyn and Long Island City in Queens. This post is being written on Friday the 18th, and at the time of this writing, a young fellow named Avonte is still missing. Avonte Oquendo, a 14 year old Autistic boy, wandered out of his school in LIC on October 4th and has been missing ever since. To their credit, the NYPD is leaving no stone unturned in the search for the kid, which includes my beloved Creek.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Patrol Boat 315, a SAFE boat, was recently observed combing the shoreline. One of my informants on the Brooklyn side told me that they had witnessed NYPD individually checking the private boats which proliferate on the Queens side as part of the so called “Vernon Boat Sanctuary.” Descriptions of uniformed patrol units working in concert with the harbor units have all reached my ears. The sky has been alive with helicopters as well, which I can personally attest to.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Today’s Maritime Sunday shout out goes to the uniformed crew of 315, tirelessly searching Newtown Creek for a local kid who’s in trouble. If you’ve got any info about Avonte or his whereabouts, his family is absolutely sick with worry. Avonte is described as 5-foot-3 and weighs about 125 pounds. He was last seen wearing a grey striped shirt and black jeans.
Those with information are asked to contact the NYPD at 800-577-TIPS.
The Newtown Pentacle 
Where could he be if he isnt in that water? Have others ever surfaced in that water? I read some where there is a lime substance that people have gotten stuck in the creek. I think it was about 2 blocks from his school in a brushy area where his scent showed up and ended at this creek. Have bodies ever come up after drowning in this creek. I also read it was very polluted and murky in this area. Any ideas?
elizabeth
December 29, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Last I heard was that NYPD is still looking, as are Avonte’s family. The area around 2nd street in LIC is functionally the East River. Hopefully he will turn up safe and sound eventually.
Mitch Waxman
December 29, 2013 at 11:17 pm