Not being familier with this canal, or even what state it is in, is a rough current, or was he just a poor swimmer?
Poor swimmer. With the exception of storms the canals are largely stagnant.
There is no current, unless it is raining and the pumps are on. They have alligators, although none that I recall being very large, alligator gars, which to me are one of the scariest looking fish on the planet and lots of nutria.
It’s in a really bad, poor, suburban neighborhood. The suspect likely was not white, and the water is practically still.