TISKILWA — Cedric Bell, 26, of Chicago drowned in Bureau Creek near Lock 12 of the Hennepin Canal northwest of Tiskilwa Sunday night.
Bureau County Sheriff Jim Reed said the sheriff's office was dispatched to the area at 7:26 p.m. Sunday. Witnesses said Bell had been swimming with friends near a bridge where he went under water and didn't resurface.
Several agencies assisted in the search including Princeton Police Department, Tiskilwa and Wyanet fire departments, Bureau County EMA, Bureau County Coroner, the American Red Cross, Peru River Rescue and Big River Rescue teams.
About 2:30 a.m. Monday, a dive team located and removed Bell's body from the water. Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff pronounced him dead at the scene at 3:30 a.m.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Bureau County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau County Coroner.
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