BERLIN TOWNSHIP — With emotions running high as loved ones and rescue teams searched for a man in the waters of Berlin Lake, a deputy sheriff was bitten by a dog as he attempted to clear one of the missing man’s friends from the search area.

The body of Ryan Mauser, 37, of Kent, was pulled from Berlin Lake on Sunday morning. While authorities say it looks like a clear case of drowning, the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office and Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate.

According to a report from the sheriff’s office, Mauser drowned late Saturday while attempting to walk out to a sandbar. Witnesses say he strayed into deeper water, and began calling for help before submerging and failing to resurface.

Berlin Township EMS arrived and immediately called the sheriff’s office for assistance, specifically requesting a dive team. Rescue teams arrived, but the sheriff’s department said the dive team could not operate at night.

While waiting for fire department rescue boats to arrive, Sgt. James Touville and other deputies attempted to clear Mauser’s friends and family from the search area. One man, Dustin Armstrong, who told police Mauser was like a brother to him, refused to exit the water.

Deputies told him he could remain in the water until the Berlin Township Fire Department boat teams began their search. But once that search commenced, Armstrong, whom police report was emotional and angry, did not want to exit the lake.

Touville said he had difficulty keeping him out of the water and ultimately had to place him in handcuffs. At that point, a dog belonging to Armstrong’s girlfriend, Allison Lintern, ran over and bit Touville’s leg.

Between 2:30 and 3 a.m., rescue crews called off the search for the night. Touville was treated at a nearby emergency room and immediately cleared to return to duty. The recovery operation resumed at 8:30 a.m. Divers arrived and quickly located Mauser’s body near his last known location.

Touville informed Lintern that she would have to provide vaccination records for the dog and that the dog would have to be quarantined in her house for 10 days. Touville reported that he decided not to charge Armstrong, given how traumatic the situation was for him, and said Armstrong was apologetic about his behavior and the dog bite.

dpompili@vindy.com