Santa Rosa Creek victim was homeless man

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Friday, Jan. 11, the Sonoma County Coroner's Office issued a public notice that they had mistakenly identified the deceased man discovered in Santa Rosa Creek as Kenneth David Anderson. The mistaken identification was based on visual confirmation made by a peace officer who had arrested Anderson on previous occasions, according to the Sheriff's Office. Fingerprint results received on Jan. 11, however, confirmed the deceased man was someone other than Anderson, the Sheriff's Office reported. Anderson's family was told of the error by authorities, who are now searching for Anderson, the Sheriff's Office reported. The Press Democrat is publishing a separate story Jan. 11 detailing the Coroner's Office retraction.

A man found dead Monday in Santa Rosa Creek near downtown was 57 years old and homeless, according to the Sonoma County Coroner's Office.

Investigators Tuesday withheld the man's name as they were still were attempting to notify family, according to a spokeswoman.

Santa Rosa police found nothing obviously suspicious with the death and coroner's investigators were looking into what happened.

The body was reported about 9:45 a.m. when someone in the area spotted a hand and then a body floating in Santa Rosa Creek, near Sixth and Pierson streets, just west of downtown.

Santa Rosa firefighters pulled the body out and because there didn't appear to foul play involved. The Coroner's Office took over the investigation to determine the man's identity and how he died.

Recent rains had raised the creek level and water was moving faster than usual.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.