The man who leaped to his death from the Galveston Causeway Friday has been identified to The Police News as 59-year old David Wayne Cheatwood of Santa Fe.

Friends say Cheatwood has been in the pest control business in that city for over 20 years and owned Rite-Way Pest Control.

He lived on Walker Street with his wife and teenage son.

Friends say Cheatwood had been depressed over the lack of business in recent months.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Jan. 26, 2013

GALVESTON - The body of a man who sat on a causeway railing, dangling his feet over the side, finally took the dive when a passing police office stopped to investigate.

His body was pulled from the waters of the Intercoastal Canal which runs under the causeway 73 feet below.

Police were helped with the recovery of the body by a boater who volunteered his services.  His boat was no commandeered as reported in some other media reports.

Commandeer:

1.Officially take possession or control of (something), esp. for military purposes.
2.Take possession of (something) without authority.

The dead mans pickup truck was empounded for investigative purposes.

His identity was not made immediately available.

The incident took place shortly before 2 o'clock Friday afternoon.