PORT TOWNSEND – Police are searching for a Port Townsend man who was last seen at the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven on Oct. 1.
Ralph G. Jenkins, 58, was reported missing at 8:30 a.m. Monday when his friend, Kendon Pogelow of Port Townsend, returned to the sailboat where he had last seen him eight days earlier, said Port Townsend Police Sgt. Ed Green.
Pogelow had escorted Jenkins to the motorized sailboat at about 9 p.m. Oct. 1 after a night of drinking, he told police, saying that Jenkins was intoxicated when he left him at the boat, Green said.
The sailboat belongs to Pogelow, but he was letting Jenkins stay on it, said Port Townsend Police Sgt. Troy Surbur, who is investigating the case.
Police do not suspect foul play, Green said.
“The boat was still there, and it didn’t look like it had been damaged or anyone had broken into it or anything,” he said.
Surbur noted that the weather that day had been stormy.
Investigators checked with the Jefferson County jail in Port Hadlock and jails in Clallam and Mason counties to see if Jenkins had been incarcerated.
He hadn’t.
They also checked with local hospitals. He was not in any area hospitals, either.
Believing Jenkins may have fallen overboard, police gathered a team of seven scuba divers to search below the dock on Monday afternoon.
The team of divers consisted of two police officers, three Port Townsend city employees and two volunteer citizens.
“We really appreciate them coming forward,” Green said of the volunteers.
“The more people you have in the water, the safer it is.”
After more than three hours of searching the water in the vicinity of Jenkins’ boat without finding any trace of him, the water search was abandoned, Green said.
All leads have dried up, Green said on Thursday.
Police are continuing to keep in contact with Pogelow to see if he recalls anything more that could help police find Jenkins.
Police also continue to be in touch with Jenkins’ family in Memphis, Tenn.
Jenkins has green eyes, stands 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighs 155 pounds. He has graying hair and is balding on the top of his head.
It’s unknown what he was wearing at the time he disappeared, Green said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to phone the Port Townsend Police Department at 360-385-2322.
