Fort Pierce Police Department
WILL GREENLEE / TCPALM
USA TODAY Network, Reuters
The man who was found floating face down in Moore’s Creek in Fort Pierce on the morning of Oct. 14 has been identified, said police officials.
Jacob Drozek, 32, was identified as the man found as the investigation into his death continued on Oct. 16, police Maj. Michael Santiago told TCPalm. Drozek’s family in Ohio had to be notified before his identity could be released, Santiago said.
The case began after an officer was flagged down about 9:15 a.m. Oct. 14 by a person who saw a body floating in the water of the canal near North 13th Street, south of Avenue D, Santiago said.
The officer called St. Lucie County Fire District crews, who pulled Drozek’s body from the water onto the side of the embankment, Santiago said.
His body had no signs of apparent trauma on the outside, Santiago said, but it did appear he had been in the water for an extended but unknown period of time.
Officials were waiting for the results of the medical examiner’s report, he said, and the investigation was ongoing.
They’re investigating Drozek’s death as suspicious because it was an “unattended death,” Santiago said, and it would be treated as a homicide until the investigation determines otherwise.
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: ID of man found in Florida canal released, investigation continues
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published October 16, 2026 at 11:49 AM.