Overview
- Police say a man was believed to have entered the water from a sailing boat in Arne Bay between about 8pm and 9pm on Friday, May 29, and the incident was not reported to Dorset Police until the evening of Sunday, May 31.
- At 6.11am on Tuesday, June 2, officers recovered an unresponsive man from Poole Harbour off Baiter Park who was pronounced dead and is believed to be 35-year-old Michael Mitchell of Chelmsford while formal ID is pending.
- Three men aged 46, 31 and 22 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody as detectives from Dorset Police’s major crime team gather evidence and question witnesses.
- Forensics teams and an underwater search unit have been deployed and officers searched a harbourside address at Walking Field Lane/Baiter Park as part of the recovery and examination work.
- Detectives have appealed for anyone with information or recent contact with the deceased to contact Dorset Police or Crimestoppers and said they are investigating the two-day delay in reporting to establish a clear timeline.