This time a chase down ther river

[sparrow803]

===I live in an apt. bldg. right on the bank of the river about a block upstream from all this - sad story this guy was that despondent - good ending though. Unsure if he had any other reasons to be running from the police.

WATERLOO, Iowa --- Police and firefighters pulled a man to safety after he jumped off a bridge following a car chase this afternoon.

The man, whose identity wasn't immediately available, was taken to Allen Hospital for treatment after floating and swimming about 10 blocks in the frigid Cedar River.

Waterloo police said charges are pending.

The incident began shortly before 4 p.m. as a family argument. The man was at a relative's house on Fowler Street with his infant child when he threatened to harm himself and the child, police said.

A family member got the child away from the man, and he drove off just as officers arrived.

A vehicle chase through downtown followed. The fleeing suspect collided with a car at the intersection of West 11th and Commercial Streets, and a squad car struck something on Sycamore Street during the pursuit.

The fleeing driver eventually pulled over on the Fourth Street bridge and jumped into the river, police said.

He continued downstream, staying afloat through at least one set of rapids and eventually began heading for the north shore. Firefighters threw him a line, and he was detained when he reached land shortly before the 11th Street bridge.

Waterloo Courier