A dead man was found floating in the water near the bird sanctuary at Golden Gardens on Monday, Feb. 12 by a park visitor. The King County Medical Examiner's office has identified the victim as Thomas Christopher Robbins, 54 years old.

Seattle Police Department spokesperson Jeff Kappel said a call came into 911 around 4:30 p.m. that day.

"A citizen called and said a dead body was floating in the water," said Kappel.

The witness was walking along the beach during low tide when she saw the body floating 30 to 40 feet from shore.

Officers were sent to the scene, along with a Seattle Police Harbor Patrol Unit and the Seattle Fire Department to look for a white male in his 50s. The Fire Department retrieved the body.

As the police arrived at the scene, members of Robbin's family were there canvassing the area with flyers with photographs according the Seattle Police Incident Reports.

Robbins was found fully clothed, but without shoes. Officers compared the victim to the photograph on the flyer to verify it was Robbins.

On the night of February 11, a police unit was sent to Golden Gardens at 7:03 p.m. regarding a man who got out of his truck and vomited. Officers found the truck but the owner was no where to be found.

A witness, who lived in a motor home, told police he had seen a man matching the description stumbling around 7 p.m. He asked the man if anything was wrong and got no response. The man was last seen near the volleyball courts.

The officer tracked the man's phone number from the truck's registration. His wife said her husband had not come home and that she was worried.

Robbin's wife told police he had gone to Walgreen's in Crown Hill to pick up medication. He had left his cell phone at home, so there was no way to contact him.

At 8:23 p.m. another search, this time with the aid of a K9 dog unit was conducted, after a police officer found the truck with four flat tires and the driver's side window down.

The search was unsuccessful.

When the body was found the next day there was no sign of foul play or any indication of a crime, said Kappel.

The case is being investigated as an accident. The body was turned over to the King County Medical Examiner's office for further examination.

In a strange twist to the story, as the police were conducting their investigation, an Olympia man sneaked through some bushes and ran onto the beach.

According to the police report, the man began photographing the body before it was covered up by a blanket. The man was ordered to leave but refused to comply despite four to five loud verbal orders and pointed gestures.

The photographer finally complied with the orders but argued with officers.

A sergeant at the scene asked the man about his actions. He claimed to be a member of the news media but could not produce press credentials. When asked what media outlet he worked for, the man said he was a freelancer.

He finally admitted he just had an Internet Blog.

Because it was obvious to police that he had hurried down to the area, he was asked if he owned a police scanner. He said he did, but that was not why he was there.

The man was told his actions would be evaluated for charges of obstruction. The man offered to hand over the digital camera's memory card to avoid prosecution, but the Sergeant refused to make any deals.

When the victim's family realized man had taken pictures, they became noticeably upset with him. The photographer again offered to hand over the memory card.

Three officers, including the Sergeant refused to take the memory card. The photographer was allowed to leave, pending review by the Court Unit for possible charges of obstruction.

The police report stated the photographer was seen conversing with the victim's family members before he left. The photographer's name was blacked out in the police report.

Dean Wong may be reached at 783.1244 or dino@robinsonnews.com