Former Ala. Rescue Capt. Indicted in Crew Member's Death

The former captain of an Alabama rescue squad has been indicted in the drowning death of a squad member. 

Michael Bettis, 49, is charged with one misdemeanor count of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Etowah County Rescue Squad member Vicky Ryan. 

In April, crews were searching for missing kayaker when their boats came too close to a spillway and capsized, dumping them into the water, WBRC reported.

Several rescuers were taken to the hospital where Ryan was pronounced dead. Her husband was riding in the boat with her.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated Ryan’s death and said that she died because of a capsized boat with an inexperienced operator, the report noted.

Bettis is being held on a $2,500 bond in the Etowah County Detention Center.