Apartment where boy drowned fined for poor pool maintenance

Six-year-old Noah Davis was at the bottom of an apartment swimming pool for several minutes while adults were frantically looking for him.

But they could not see him because the water was too murky. Paramedics on June 29 managed to restore a pulse, but the boy died a week later.

On Tuesday, the management company that operates the pool admitted it failed to keep the pool clean.

PASSCO Four Winds pleaded guilty in Overland Park Municipal Court to 10 violations, including failure to maintain sufficient water clarity. The company was fined $500 for each citation for a total of $5,000.

Noah and his family were at the Four Winds apartments at 8000 Perry St. on June 29. Noah went missing shortly before 8 p.m., prompting his family to begin searching for him. They checked the pool. Someone jumped into the water, and then felt something against her legs, police said. Noah was unresponsive when pulled from the water.

Police said a discoloration of the water had made it difficult to see the child.

The next day a city codes inspector issued the citations against the apartment management. They included failure to maintain a clean pool surface, floor and walls; failure to maintain sufficient disinfectant content or the use of unapproved disinfectant; failure to maintain an adequate pH level; failure to maintain adequate daily records; and failure to provide a readily available telephone and/or posted emergency number while the pool was open. There were multiple counts of some violations.

On Monday, Noah, who had wanted to be a policeman when he grew up, was made an honorary officer of the Shawnee Police Department. He also received a Medal of Valor because his donated organs helped save lives.