    ACCORDING TO THE INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION, ON DECEMBER 15, 1996, ABT. 5:00P.M., SOME CHILDREN FROM THE NEIGHBOR HOOD WHERE THE DECEASED LIVED WERE WALKING TO A NEARBY MCDONALDS WHEN THEY OBSERVED THE DECEASED FLOATING IN THE CANAL.  THEY CONTINUED THEIR WALK AND WHEN THEY RETURNED AND OBSERVED HIM STILL FLOATING, THEY CONTACTED HIALEAH POLICE DEPARTMENT.  FIRE RESCUE RESPONDED REMOVED HIM FROM THE CANAL AND PRONOUNCED HIM DEAD.
    HE WAS FULLY CLOTHED, MONEY WAS FOUND IN HIS POCKETS, HIS WATCH, GLASSES, ETC. WERE ALL FOUND ON HIM (ALL ITEMS WERE IMPOUNDED).  
***POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION WAS MADE BY FLORIDA DRIVER LICENSE WHICH WERE FOUND ON HIM.****
    ACCORDING TO HIS DAUGHTER, HE WAS LAST SPOKEN TO ON DECEMBER 15, 1996.  AT THAT TIME, HE MADE NO COMPLAINTS OF NOT FEELING WELL AND APPEARED TO BE VERY HAPPY.  HE WAS A HEAVY DRINKER, DID NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM AND WAS AFRAID OF WATER.  HE WAS NOT DEPRESSED OR SUICIDAL.  IN SEPTEMBER OF 1996, HE WAS TREATED AT PALMETTO GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR FAINTING EPISODES.  HE ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY BREATHING DUE TO EMPHYSEMA.  MEDICATIONS TRANSPORTED WERE SODIUM CHLORIDE INHALATION, THEO-24 400MG & 200MG, PYRAZINAMIDE 500MG,  RIFAMATE, ATROVENT, ALBUTEROL INHALER, AND ATROVENT INHALER. 