Lake Orion teen remembered for thoughtfulness
Published: Friday, May 8, 2009
By SHAUN BYRON
Of The Oakland Press
Smile, laughter and a positive attitude — three qualities an Orion Township teen who drowned in a weekend boating accident, were what four close friends say they'll miss the most.
Jonathan Edward Harper, 19, died Saturday night while enjoying a boat ride on Lake Orion with the four teens.
Alcohol wasn't a factor in the accident.
The group, now mourning the loss, says they did everything to save the sweet and thoughtful person who they were lucky enough to call friend.
It was about 8:11 p.m. when Lake Orion officers responded to a 911 call for a reported drowning.
Harper had accidentally fallen off of a pontoon boat while reaching into the water to grab something.
"We were heading back in and Jon thought he saw a pop bottle in the water," said Gregory Latozas, who was driving the pontoon boat.
Harper was holding onto an attached ladder when he fell in the lake headfirst. The ladder reportedly fell on top of him.
Kelly Leachman was the first to jump in the water with Stephanie Malski jumping in second, carrying a flotation device.
"I tried turning the boat around, but the boat stalled," Latozas said.
Temperatures of the lake that day were reportedly in the 40s.
Leachman and Malski said they were forced to get back on the pontoon boat because of the frigid temperatures and Harper continued to float away too fast for them to catch.
On the boat with Latozas was Ashley Freeman, who was screaming for help to other boats that passed the scene.
A Lake Orion couple out on the lake spotted the incident as they passed and turned around to help, according to the teens and police.
Latozas said he called 911 but then jumped in the lake to go after Harper when he was placed on hold.
The teen was able to get Harper onto the couple's boat and the four headed to shore, where emergency crews had gathered.
Leachman, Malski and Freeman, meanwhile, remained on the pontoon boat and paddled back to shore.
Harper was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His death has left a void for the close friends, who say Harper had a love of video games and was a constant fixture at Latozas' home.
The group says they have wonderful memories of inside jokes, playing video games, long walks and moments that were special just because Harper was there.
Harper, they said, also loved his mother and had plans of enrolling in college, but was unsure of what career path to take.
Leachman said she remembers Harper making a pancake shaped like a mushroom character from the "Super Mario Bros." video game.
"He drew the face on it," she said. "Took pictures of it and everything."
Malski said she remembers how concerned Harper was when she hit her head and had a concussion.
"He took care of me," she said. "He wouldn't let me go home until I was OK.
"He was always just there."
Freeman said she was involved in a car accident where she was injured a few months ago, and Harper visited constantly.
"Whenever you needed him, he was there," she said.
Contact staff writer Shaun Byron at (248) 745-4685 or [email protected].
By Megan Hess
The Lake Orion Review
Teens turned heroes on Lake Orion
May 13, 2009
"These kids gave a valiant effort to the extent that they almost drown," said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh of Jonathan Harper's four friends.
Harper, 19, became the first casualty of the 2009 boating season when he fell into Lake Orion, May 2.
Kelly Leachman, Ashley Freeman, Greg Latozas and Stephanie Malski were on the lake with Harper and watched as he plunged head-first into the 50-degree water from a pontoon boat.
A ladder was at his feet as Harper reached over the front of the watercraft for a bottle floating in the water, and when he fell, the ladder went with him. Lake Orion police reports said it may have become entangled in his feet.
Both Leachman and Malski plunged into the lake in an attempt to help, but without success.
"I remembered he couldn't swim, so I took off my jacket and jumped in after him," Leachman said. "My body couldn't make it – I was freezing up. I had to go back to the boat."
The two girls made it back on the pontoon while Freeman threw personal floatation devices to help.
By the time Latozas, the boat's driver, maneuvered the craft back to their friend, Harper was floating face-down in the chilly waters.
Latozas jumped into the water and swam to him when James and Julie Siwek arrived in their boat to assist the struggling teens. The couple pulled them on board and delivered the young men to emergency crews on shore.
"We're extremely proud of these kids," said Narsh. "We plan on recognizing them for their heroic action."
Leachman and Freeman said they'll remember their friend for his kindness.
"Jon was just an all-around good person," said Leachman. "I just keep imagining him walking through the door."
"He was always there whenever you needed to talk," said Freeman.
April, Freeman's mother, said the friends had their own 'family unit' and enjoyed hanging out in Latozas' family boathouse.
"Jon was so great, so sweet," she said.
Leachman and the Freemans are frustrated at the lack of law enforcement on Lake Orion now that the boating season has picked up.
"If a sheriff was in the water, they wouldn't have been out there alone," said Freeman's mom. "They could have all drowned if they hadn't helped each other."
Both Freeman and Leachman said the three girls were left on the stalled pontoon boat after Harper and Latozas were taken to shore. They eventually paddled to shore.
The lake is under Oakland County Sheriff Department's jurisdiction and, according to Marine Division Commander Matt Snyder, the OCSD doesn't staff deputies on the water until after Memorial Day.
"If it's cold and slow, we're not going to put anyone out there," he said. "It's dependent on the weather."
During prime hours and weekends, OSCD keeps one marine deputy on duty, according to Snyder.
Published: Friday, May 8, 2009
By SHAUN BYRON
Of The Oakland Press
Smile, laughter and a positive attitude — three qualities an Orion Township teen who drowned in a weekend boating accident, were what four close friends say they'll miss the most.
Jonathan Edward Harper, 19, died Saturday night while enjoying a boat ride on Lake Orion with the four teens.
Alcohol wasn't a factor in the accident.
The group, now mourning the loss, says they did everything to save the sweet and thoughtful person who they were lucky enough to call friend.
It was about 8:11 p.m. when Lake Orion officers responded to a 911 call for a reported drowning.
Harper had accidentally fallen off of a pontoon boat while reaching into the water to grab something.
"We were heading back in and Jon thought he saw a pop bottle in the water," said Gregory Latozas, who was driving the pontoon boat.
Harper was holding onto an attached ladder when he fell in the lake headfirst. The ladder reportedly fell on top of him.
Kelly Leachman was the first to jump in the water with Stephanie Malski jumping in second, carrying a flotation device.
"I tried turning the boat around, but the boat stalled," Latozas said.
Temperatures of the lake that day were reportedly in the 40s.
Leachman and Malski said they were forced to get back on the pontoon boat because of the frigid temperatures and Harper continued to float away too fast for them to catch.
On the boat with Latozas was Ashley Freeman, who was screaming for help to other boats that passed the scene.
A Lake Orion couple out on the lake spotted the incident as they passed and turned around to help, according to the teens and police.
Latozas said he called 911 but then jumped in the lake to go after Harper when he was placed on hold.
The teen was able to get Harper onto the couple's boat and the four headed to shore, where emergency crews had gathered.
Leachman, Malski and Freeman, meanwhile, remained on the pontoon boat and paddled back to shore.
Harper was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His death has left a void for the close friends, who say Harper had a love of video games and was a constant fixture at Latozas' home.
The group says they have wonderful memories of inside jokes, playing video games, long walks and moments that were special just because Harper was there.
Harper, they said, also loved his mother and had plans of enrolling in college, but was unsure of what career path to take.
Leachman said she remembers Harper making a pancake shaped like a mushroom character from the "Super Mario Bros." video game.
"He drew the face on it," she said. "Took pictures of it and everything."
Malski said she remembers how concerned Harper was when she hit her head and had a concussion.
"He took care of me," she said. "He wouldn't let me go home until I was OK.
"He was always just there."
Freeman said she was involved in a car accident where she was injured a few months ago, and Harper visited constantly.
"Whenever you needed him, he was there," she said.
Contact staff writer Shaun Byron at (248) 745-4685 or [email protected].
By Megan Hess
The Lake Orion Review
Teens turned heroes on Lake Orion
May 13, 2009
"These kids gave a valiant effort to the extent that they almost drown," said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh of Jonathan Harper's four friends.
Harper, 19, became the first casualty of the 2009 boating season when he fell into Lake Orion, May 2.
Kelly Leachman, Ashley Freeman, Greg Latozas and Stephanie Malski were on the lake with Harper and watched as he plunged head-first into the 50-degree water from a pontoon boat.
A ladder was at his feet as Harper reached over the front of the watercraft for a bottle floating in the water, and when he fell, the ladder went with him. Lake Orion police reports said it may have become entangled in his feet.
Both Leachman and Malski plunged into the lake in an attempt to help, but without success.
"I remembered he couldn't swim, so I took off my jacket and jumped in after him," Leachman said. "My body couldn't make it – I was freezing up. I had to go back to the boat."
The two girls made it back on the pontoon while Freeman threw personal floatation devices to help.
By the time Latozas, the boat's driver, maneuvered the craft back to their friend, Harper was floating face-down in the chilly waters.
Latozas jumped into the water and swam to him when James and Julie Siwek arrived in their boat to assist the struggling teens. The couple pulled them on board and delivered the young men to emergency crews on shore.
"We're extremely proud of these kids," said Narsh. "We plan on recognizing them for their heroic action."
Leachman and Freeman said they'll remember their friend for his kindness.
"Jon was just an all-around good person," said Leachman. "I just keep imagining him walking through the door."
"He was always there whenever you needed to talk," said Freeman.
April, Freeman's mother, said the friends had their own 'family unit' and enjoyed hanging out in Latozas' family boathouse.
"Jon was so great, so sweet," she said.
Leachman and the Freemans are frustrated at the lack of law enforcement on Lake Orion now that the boating season has picked up.
"If a sheriff was in the water, they wouldn't have been out there alone," said Freeman's mom. "They could have all drowned if they hadn't helped each other."
Both Freeman and Leachman said the three girls were left on the stalled pontoon boat after Harper and Latozas were taken to shore. They eventually paddled to shore.
The lake is under Oakland County Sheriff Department's jurisdiction and, according to Marine Division Commander Matt Snyder, the OCSD doesn't staff deputies on the water until after Memorial Day.
"If it's cold and slow, we're not going to put anyone out there," he said. "It's dependent on the weather."
During prime hours and weekends, OSCD keeps one marine deputy on duty, according to Snyder.
Lake Orion teen remembered for thoughtfulness
Published: Friday, May 8, 2009
By SHAUN BYRON
Of The Oakland Press
Smile, laughter and a positive attitude — three qualities an Orion Township teen who drowned in a weekend boating accident, were what four close friends say they'll miss the most.
Jonathan Edward Harper, 19, died Saturday night while enjoying a boat ride on Lake Orion with the four teens.
Alcohol wasn't a factor in the accident.
The group, now mourning the loss, says they did everything to save the sweet and thoughtful person who they were lucky enough to call friend.
It was about 8:11 p.m. when Lake Orion officers responded to a 911 call for a reported drowning.
Harper had accidentally fallen off of a pontoon boat while reaching into the water to grab something.
"We were heading back in and Jon thought he saw a pop bottle in the water," said Gregory Latozas, who was driving the pontoon boat.
Harper was holding onto an attached ladder when he fell in the lake headfirst. The ladder reportedly fell on top of him.
Kelly Leachman was the first to jump in the water with Stephanie Malski jumping in second, carrying a flotation device.
"I tried turning the boat around, but the boat stalled," Latozas said.
Temperatures of the lake that day were reportedly in the 40s.
Leachman and Malski said they were forced to get back on the pontoon boat because of the frigid temperatures and Harper continued to float away too fast for them to catch.
On the boat with Latozas was Ashley Freeman, who was screaming for help to other boats that passed the scene.
A Lake Orion couple out on the lake spotted the incident as they passed and turned around to help, according to the teens and police.
Latozas said he called 911 but then jumped in the lake to go after Harper when he was placed on hold.
The teen was able to get Harper onto the couple's boat and the four headed to shore, where emergency crews had gathered.
Leachman, Malski and Freeman, meanwhile, remained on the pontoon boat and paddled back to shore.
Harper was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His death has left a void for the close friends, who say Harper had a love of video games and was a constant fixture at Latozas' home.
The group says they have wonderful memories of inside jokes, playing video games, long walks and moments that were special just because Harper was there.
Harper, they said, also loved his mother and had plans of enrolling in college, but was unsure of what career path to take.
Leachman said she remembers Harper making a pancake shaped like a mushroom character from the "Super Mario Bros." video game.
"He drew the face on it," she said. "Took pictures of it and everything."
Malski said she remembers how concerned Harper was when she hit her head and had a concussion.
"He took care of me," she said. "He wouldn't let me go home until I was OK.
"He was always just there."
Freeman said she was involved in a car accident where she was injured a few months ago, and Harper visited constantly.
"Whenever you needed him, he was there," she said.
Contact staff writer Shaun Byron at (248) 745-4685 or [email protected].
By Megan Hess
The Lake Orion Review
Teens turned heroes on Lake Orion
May 13, 2009
"These kids gave a valiant effort to the extent that they almost drown," said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh of Jonathan Harper's four friends.
Harper, 19, became the first casualty of the 2009 boating season when he fell into Lake Orion, May 2.
Kelly Leachman, Ashley Freeman, Greg Latozas and Stephanie Malski were on the lake with Harper and watched as he plunged head-first into the 50-degree water from a pontoon boat.
A ladder was at his feet as Harper reached over the front of the watercraft for a bottle floating in the water, and when he fell, the ladder went with him. Lake Orion police reports said it may have become entangled in his feet.
Both Leachman and Malski plunged into the lake in an attempt to help, but without success.
"I remembered he couldn't swim, so I took off my jacket and jumped in after him," Leachman said. "My body couldn't make it – I was freezing up. I had to go back to the boat."
The two girls made it back on the pontoon while Freeman threw personal floatation devices to help.
By the time Latozas, the boat's driver, maneuvered the craft back to their friend, Harper was floating face-down in the chilly waters.
Latozas jumped into the water and swam to him when James and Julie Siwek arrived in their boat to assist the struggling teens. The couple pulled them on board and delivered the young men to emergency crews on shore.
"We're extremely proud of these kids," said Narsh. "We plan on recognizing them for their heroic action."
Leachman and Freeman said they'll remember their friend for his kindness.
"Jon was just an all-around good person," said Leachman. "I just keep imagining him walking through the door."
"He was always there whenever you needed to talk," said Freeman.
April, Freeman's mother, said the friends had their own 'family unit' and enjoyed hanging out in Latozas' family boathouse.
"Jon was so great, so sweet," she said.
Leachman and the Freemans are frustrated at the lack of law enforcement on Lake Orion now that the boating season has picked up.
"If a sheriff was in the water, they wouldn't have been out there alone," said Freeman's mom. "They could have all drowned if they hadn't helped each other."
Both Freeman and Leachman said the three girls were left on the stalled pontoon boat after Harper and Latozas were taken to shore. They eventually paddled to shore.
The lake is under Oakland County Sheriff Department's jurisdiction and, according to Marine Division Commander Matt Snyder, the OCSD doesn't staff deputies on the water until after Memorial Day.
"If it's cold and slow, we're not going to put anyone out there," he said. "It's dependent on the weather."
During prime hours and weekends, OSCD keeps one marine deputy on duty, according to Snyder.
Published: Friday, May 8, 2009
By SHAUN BYRON
Of The Oakland Press
Smile, laughter and a positive attitude — three qualities an Orion Township teen who drowned in a weekend boating accident, were what four close friends say they'll miss the most.
Jonathan Edward Harper, 19, died Saturday night while enjoying a boat ride on Lake Orion with the four teens.
Alcohol wasn't a factor in the accident.
The group, now mourning the loss, says they did everything to save the sweet and thoughtful person who they were lucky enough to call friend.
It was about 8:11 p.m. when Lake Orion officers responded to a 911 call for a reported drowning.
Harper had accidentally fallen off of a pontoon boat while reaching into the water to grab something.
"We were heading back in and Jon thought he saw a pop bottle in the water," said Gregory Latozas, who was driving the pontoon boat.
Harper was holding onto an attached ladder when he fell in the lake headfirst. The ladder reportedly fell on top of him.
Kelly Leachman was the first to jump in the water with Stephanie Malski jumping in second, carrying a flotation device.
"I tried turning the boat around, but the boat stalled," Latozas said.
Temperatures of the lake that day were reportedly in the 40s.
Leachman and Malski said they were forced to get back on the pontoon boat because of the frigid temperatures and Harper continued to float away too fast for them to catch.
On the boat with Latozas was Ashley Freeman, who was screaming for help to other boats that passed the scene.
A Lake Orion couple out on the lake spotted the incident as they passed and turned around to help, according to the teens and police.
Latozas said he called 911 but then jumped in the lake to go after Harper when he was placed on hold.
The teen was able to get Harper onto the couple's boat and the four headed to shore, where emergency crews had gathered.
Leachman, Malski and Freeman, meanwhile, remained on the pontoon boat and paddled back to shore.
Harper was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His death has left a void for the close friends, who say Harper had a love of video games and was a constant fixture at Latozas' home.
The group says they have wonderful memories of inside jokes, playing video games, long walks and moments that were special just because Harper was there.
Harper, they said, also loved his mother and had plans of enrolling in college, but was unsure of what career path to take.
Leachman said she remembers Harper making a pancake shaped like a mushroom character from the "Super Mario Bros." video game.
"He drew the face on it," she said. "Took pictures of it and everything."
Malski said she remembers how concerned Harper was when she hit her head and had a concussion.
"He took care of me," she said. "He wouldn't let me go home until I was OK.
"He was always just there."
Freeman said she was involved in a car accident where she was injured a few months ago, and Harper visited constantly.
"Whenever you needed him, he was there," she said.
Contact staff writer Shaun Byron at (248) 745-4685 or [email protected].
By Megan Hess
The Lake Orion Review
Teens turned heroes on Lake Orion
May 13, 2009
"These kids gave a valiant effort to the extent that they almost drown," said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh of Jonathan Harper's four friends.
Harper, 19, became the first casualty of the 2009 boating season when he fell into Lake Orion, May 2.
Kelly Leachman, Ashley Freeman, Greg Latozas and Stephanie Malski were on the lake with Harper and watched as he plunged head-first into the 50-degree water from a pontoon boat.
A ladder was at his feet as Harper reached over the front of the watercraft for a bottle floating in the water, and when he fell, the ladder went with him. Lake Orion police reports said it may have become entangled in his feet.
Both Leachman and Malski plunged into the lake in an attempt to help, but without success.
"I remembered he couldn't swim, so I took off my jacket and jumped in after him," Leachman said. "My body couldn't make it – I was freezing up. I had to go back to the boat."
The two girls made it back on the pontoon while Freeman threw personal floatation devices to help.
By the time Latozas, the boat's driver, maneuvered the craft back to their friend, Harper was floating face-down in the chilly waters.
Latozas jumped into the water and swam to him when James and Julie Siwek arrived in their boat to assist the struggling teens. The couple pulled them on board and delivered the young men to emergency crews on shore.
"We're extremely proud of these kids," said Narsh. "We plan on recognizing them for their heroic action."
Leachman and Freeman said they'll remember their friend for his kindness.
"Jon was just an all-around good person," said Leachman. "I just keep imagining him walking through the door."
"He was always there whenever you needed to talk," said Freeman.
April, Freeman's mother, said the friends had their own 'family unit' and enjoyed hanging out in Latozas' family boathouse.
"Jon was so great, so sweet," she said.
Leachman and the Freemans are frustrated at the lack of law enforcement on Lake Orion now that the boating season has picked up.
"If a sheriff was in the water, they wouldn't have been out there alone," said Freeman's mom. "They could have all drowned if they hadn't helped each other."
Both Freeman and Leachman said the three girls were left on the stalled pontoon boat after Harper and Latozas were taken to shore. They eventually paddled to shore.
The lake is under Oakland County Sheriff Department's jurisdiction and, according to Marine Division Commander Matt Snyder, the OCSD doesn't staff deputies on the water until after Memorial Day.
"If it's cold and slow, we're not going to put anyone out there," he said. "It's dependent on the weather."
During prime hours and weekends, OSCD keeps one marine deputy on duty, according to Snyder.
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