LIMA — The Allen County Coroner’s Office has released the name of a man who drowned Sunday in the Ottawa
River while attempting to rescue his dog.
A press release issued by the office of Dr. John Meyer identified Eric Nolte, 35, of Lima, as the victim
of the incident that took place in Shawnee Township.
Lima police said it’s believed Nolte went into the water north of Adgate and Fort Amanda roads around
2:14 p.m. Sunday. Another person who was walking with the man pulled the dog out of the water safely.

The Lima Fire Department launched a river rescue shortly thereafter to try to find the victim. The
American Township Fire Department was also dispatched with a boat further downstream.
The man’s body was found at 3:38 p.m. by the Lima Fire Department boat crew behind the Shawnee Township
Fire Department.
Allen County Coroner’s investigator Jamie Sizemore estimated the man traveled a mile to a mile and a half
downstream over an hour and 20-minute time frame.
Sizemore said the cause of death is an accidental drowning.