SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 26, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A man who committed a minor traffic violation on a bicycle, fled the scene, crossed a field, and dove into the Jordan River Friday morning before he was taken into custody.
Lt. Dave Cracroft of the Salt Lake City Police Department said the incident began at 12:30 a.m. Friday near 500 North and 1300 West.
Officers “tried to stop and talk to the man, but the guy on the bike fled on the bike, crossed the field and ended up diving into the river to get away from officers,” Cracroft told Gephardt Daily.
It didn’t work.
“They (SLCPD officers) basically watched him go down the river and followed him, and when we got enough help, told him, ‘We’ll send a dog in if you don’t comply, and he ended up deciding to comply.” Cracroft said.
“He ended up finally coming over to the bank, and our officers were able to take him into custody.”
The suspect initially would not tell officers his name, but was later identified as Fred Andy Marquez. He was taken to a local hospital to be checked out prior to his booking.
“He told us he had hypothermia,” Cracroft said, shortly after the incident. “It’s certainly cold tonight, and the river of course is cold.”
