According to a report from the Russells Point Police Department released Tuesday, a late-night boat crash near Crystal Beach on Sunday, August 24, set off a chain of events that ended with the arrest of a Massillon man.
Just after 12:30 a.m., several callers reported a boat speeding across the water before a loud crash.
The Indian Joint Fire District (IJFD) found the wreck near Crystal Beach, where several injured passengers had been left behind.
Crews took the victims to Fox Island for treatment, while law enforcement began searching for the boat’s driver.
About 30 minutes later, officers located the damaged boat tied up near Willow Island, but the operator was gone.
During the response, firefighters also discovered one of their personal vehicles missing from the dock.
With OnStar’s help, the vehicle was remotely disabled and recovered on the west side of the lake without damage.
The next day, investigators spoke with passengers who said they had met the operator earlier at a local restaurant.
He was identified as 26-year-old Tyler Cosgrove of Massillon.
Surveillance footage confirmed Cosgrove had stolen the firefighter’s vehicle, and witnesses identified him as the boat’s driver.
On Sunday, August 31, Cosgrove returned to Indian Lake to retrieve his wrecked boat from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
He was arrested, taken to the Logan County Jail, and charged with grand theft, along with other charges tied to the crash.
Russells Point Police are handling the stolen vehicle case, while ODNR is leading the boat crash investigation.
Agencies that responded included ODNR, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Russells Point Police Department, Indian Joint Fire District, Lakeview Fire Department, and Huntsville EMS.
