A James River boater who had a suspicious device chained to his body has been towed to shore by the Coast Guard.
Chief Petty Officer Mike Hvozda said Friday the black box that was attached to a chain wrapped around the man's neck contained sand.
John Bull, of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, said that the Surry, Va., nuclear power plant is about 2.5 miles away from where the man was and that there was no indication that the plant was a target.
The man was in an inflatable boat and drifting with the current, Bull said. He had a metal chain around his neck and the chain was attached to a black box.
At 7 a.m. a commercial crabber was tending to his crabs and noticed the man in the inflatable raft. He went closer but not too close and asked if the man needed assistance, Bull said. The man reportedly said no.
The crabber notified authorities. The Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Police responded immediately.
Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said the 32-year-old Williamsburg, Va., resident was intoxicated and is under medical observation. No criminal charges have been filed.
