Police identify body found in Tempe Town Lake

Tempe police have named the man who drowned in Tempe Town Lake under the Mill Avenue Bridge on Sunday evening.

Police say officials plucked the body of Michael Bzichaza, 27, from the lake's waters and pronounced him dead at the scene.

"At this time, it appears that Mr. Bzichaza was swimming in the Tempe Town Lake by himself when unfortunately he drowned. The investigation is ongoing, however at this time, no signs of foul play exist," Tempe police spokesman Sgt. Rashidi Johnson said.

The Tempe Fire Department recovered the body after receiving multiple calls about a man struggling in the water shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, according to Tempe Assistant Fire Chief Hans Silberschlag.

Silberschlag said dive teams found the man eight minutes after they arrived.

Witnesses reported a man struggling in the water of Tempe Town Lake near the boat-rental facility on the north shore. They told officials they saw the man go under the water, but never come to shore.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Bzichaza screaming from the water.

Lamont Taylor said he was in the park on the north side of the lake when he heard Bzichaza yelling, "Help me." Taylor ran toward the Mill Avenue Bridge and saw two employees of the boat-rental facility nearby get in a boat to try and find the man.

Benjamin Nelson, one of the Tempe Town Lake Boat Rentals employees, said he jumped out of the boat and swam "down 10 or 15 feet," but couldn't find anything in the water. He said he tried twice before he saw the Fire Department crews.

The second worker, Brooke Foland, said a woman ran to the boat-rental office and said she saw Bzichaza yelling for help around 7:45 p.m.

Foland reported seeing his clothes and shoes on the lake embankment.

"I was upset that no one else helped," Foland said.

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