Missing swimmer identified

The swimmer who disappeared in the waters north of Golden Gardens park last Thursday has not been found and is presumed drowned, Seattle police said Sunday.

Authorities identified the 21-year-old man as Brent M. Sweet from Los Alamos, New Mexico. Police released his name at the request of the family, said Jeff Kappel, police department spokesman.

"There was an extensive search done," Kappel said. "He has not been located."

The case is not being investigated as a suspicious death, Kappel added.

Shortly before 8:45 p.m. last Thursday, a person on the beach north of Golden Gardens Park heard swimmers near the buoy yelling for help.

Sweet and a companion had been trying to swim to a buoy about 200 yards from shore, police said. Fire boats, police, the Coast Guard and the King County helicopter spent hours searching for Sweet after he was reported missing.

Units were dispatched, and Harbor Patrol found one of the swimmers, a 29-year-old man, minutes later, Kappel said. Divers spent the next day searching for Sweet's body.

Police are now looking for a missing truck that belongs to Sweet's parents. The white 1997 Nissan pickup has the New Mexico license plates GAD 524.

"We're trying to locate this truck so we can talk to who's driving it and hopefully provide some more information for the family," Kappel said.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com