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Frank A. Douglass Insurance Agency

Minnesota man drowns in Portage Canal

Monday afternoon at 4:00, Hancock Police Department was called out to a dead body on the canal shoreline in the 1400 block of Jasberg Street. It had been in the water for about a week and its condition made a positive identification difficult.

That same day, two women had contacted the office about a 40-year-old Minnesota man named Benjamin Julik, who was missing and had last been seen at the Hancock bus station in late July. Dental records and reaching out to the family has allowed Hancock Police to identify the body as the remains of Julik.

Toxicology results are still a week away, at least, but early indications are that the drowning does not involve any foul play. Julik was dressed in swimming attire when he was recovered.

He had on a longer pair of shorts. Some might call them swim pants. That’s all he had on, was shorts. No shirt, no shoes, nothing else.

It appears he intended to be in the water.

Houghton Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene with their marine unit, as did Mercy EMS.

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