Police identify missing Rock Falls man

Police still searching

ROCK FALLS – Whiteside County Sheriff's deputies this morning said the Rock Falls man believed to have drowned in the Rock River early Sunday was Scott E. Denning, 39.

Deputies today are continuing to search the river along Lawrence Park looking for Denning, who disappeared after swimming in the Rock River just west of the Avenue G bridge.

Denning is about 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 185 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. He was last wearing a pair of jeans, a dark sweatshirt and a brace on his right knee inside the pant leg.

According to deputies, Denning and a friend were fishing at Lawrence Park when they decided to go swimming about 4 a.m. Sunday. The friend returned to shore because he couldn't go as far as Denning, according to deputies.

The friend went home, thinking his friend would turn up. Later, his family said they hadn't heard from him and called deputies about 1 p.m.

Deputies have six boats combing the river today, Whiteside County Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi said.

Deputies are searching north along the river from Moline Road at the public boat launch area, Wilhelmi said.

The department is being assisted by officers in Prophetstown, Lyndon, and Erie. The Department of Natural Resources also is on scene.

Anyone with information on Denning's whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's department at 815-772-4044.

For more details, read Tuesday's Telegraph and Daily Gazette.