Sheriff’s Office recovers man’s body from Sandy River

Date

3/31/2025

CCSO Case # 25-006204

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, along with members of the Clackamas County Water Rescue Consortium, responded to a water emergency at Dodge Park in unincorporated Clackamas County.

Shortly after 3:30 p.m., multiple 911 callers reported that a person had fallen into the Bull Run River. Witnesses saw the individual being swept downstream toward the confluence with the Sandy River.

Emergency crews from Clackamas Fire, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, American Medical Response (AMR), and the Sheriff’s Office quickly responded to the scene. The search was made extremely difficult by hazardous conditions, including frigid water temperatures, powerful currents, and low visibility.

The missing individual was identified as Kaleb Ryan Rethwisch, age 27 of Portland. Search efforts were suspended Tuesday evening due to safety concerns but resumed the following day, Wednesday, March 26.

On Sunday, March 30, a community member reported seeing a body in the water near a location commonly referred to as the “Blue Hole,” approximately 2.5 river miles downstream from Dodge Park, where the Bull Run River meets the Sandy River.

CCSO deputies and Clackamas Fire personnel responded and recovered the body, which was later confirmed to be Rethwisch. Due to the remote nature of the area, Clackamas County Search and Rescue (CSAR) volunteers assisted in transporting Rethwisch to an accessible location. The Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office also responded and assisted with the recovery.

This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the serious hazards posed by local waterways during the spring months. Even as warmer weather begins to arrive, rivers remain cold, fast-moving, and unpredictable due to spring runoff, creating conditions that can quickly become life-threatening.

The Clackamas County Water Rescue Consortium includes Clackamas Fire District #1, Lake Oswego Fire Department, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

CCSO Case # 25-006204

[END]

Sgt. Ross Clemson, Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Communications Unit