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Search Continues For Missing Jersey Shore Boater

By Todd Quinones

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Eyewitness News has learned a missing boater is facing a criminal investigation and authorities believe he may be alive and running away from police.

Forty-five-year-old Andrew Biddle was last thought to have gone missing in the waters off Longport.

Rescue attempts by the Coast Guard turned up nothing after Biddle, a boat racing champion, was thought to have crashed a pontoon boat into a buoy.

A passenger on that boat swam to shore telling authorities he didn't know what happened to Biddle.

That was nearly two weeks ago.

Now, authorities confirm the Egg Harbor Township Police Department is circulating a flyer to law enforcement because they are investigating that Biddle may have not been on the pontoon boat, meaning he may have staged his own disappearance.

"He's actually a really nice guy," Frank Gorham said.

Gorham says he worked with Biddle at a marina in Northfield. He's not buying the accident may have been staged.

"I don't think he could have disappeared or anything like that. I don't think he did that.  I really think he's missing," he said.

But the Atlantic County Prosecutor's office tells Eyewitness News Biddle and his partner are accused of several counts of theft for allegedly taking possession of boats in trade, then reselling them and not paying off the loans. And that Biddle was indicted on three counts of theft by deception and there are additional open cases pending grand jury review for Biddle.

The Egg Harbor Township Police Department is asking anyone who may have recently seen Biddle to call them immediately.

 

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