Newport Police Investigating Drowning Death of Beebe Man

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The Newport Police Department is investigating the drowning death of a 52-year-old man from Beebe, Arkansas who fell into a lake at Lockwood Park on April 4th. The Independence County Sheriff's Office Dive Team responded and recovered the victim's body, but he was determined to be deceased at the scene. At this time, there is no suspected foul play involved.

Why it matters

Drowning incidents are a tragic occurrence that require thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances and rule out any potential criminal activity. This case highlights the importance of water safety and the need for swift emergency response when someone is reported missing in a body of water.

The details

According to the Newport Police Department, officers were called to Lockwood Park around 7:41 p.m. on April 4th in response to a report of a man falling into the lake. When officers arrived, they were unable to locate the victim and requested assistance from the Independence County Sheriff's Office Dive Team. The dive team was able to recover the body of 52-year-old Dewayne Dates of Beebe, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

• The incident occurred around 7:41 p.m. on April 4, 2026.
• The Independence County Sheriff's Office Dive Team responded to the scene.