Deputies suspend search for man missing in Washougal River

Clark County sheriff’s deputies announced Monday morning they are suspending the search for a 30-year-old Portland man who went missing Saturday night when he fell off his inner tube in the Washougal River.

The sheriff’s office said in a news release that it partnered with a regional rescue team to try to locate Stephen Barnaby using multiple unmanned aircraft, ground searchers and underwater cameras.

“Barnaby remains missing at this time, and the search has been suspended,” the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies responded about 8:15 p.m. to the 38700 block of Northeast Washougal River Road, near Milepost 7.5, for a woman who was screaming for help. Upon arrival, they found Emily McCauley, 28, of Portland, submerged up to her neck in the Washougal River. Her legs were pinned beneath the rapidly moving water, according to the sheriff’s office.

It took about two hours to rescue McCauley, who became unconscious, and she was taken to a local hospital for treatment. She resumed consciousness there and was interviewed by deputies early Sunday morning.

She told deputies she had been floating with Barnaby on the “big eddy” on separate inner tubes near Milepost 8 of Washougal River Road. They were swept into the fast-moving current and fell off their inner tubes. She said she remembered seeing Barnaby float by her when she became trapped, the sheriff’s office said.