An officer had spotted a man, later identified as 29-year-old Joshua Wilkinson, lying in a yard on South River Street. When the officer tried to check on his wellbeing, Wilkinson allegedly ran and went down an embankment near the Black Bridge railroad crossing, said police Chief Russ Whitman.
The officer heard a splash, but could not see whether the man he was pursuing went into the water, Whitman said.
Fearing for the man's safety in the fast-moving water, police and firefighters went out on boats and searched for him for about an hour.
Wilkinson was spotted in some bushes along the river and taken into custody, Whitman said. He was completely wet, indicating he had been in the water.
The chief added that even though criminal activity was not the reason the officer approached Wilkinson, police pursued him to ensure he was safe.
"Even though it may not be criminal, once he goes into the river, it doesn't matter. At that point, he's a human being and we're going to save his life," Whitman said.
Wilkinson was yelling, "What am I being arrested for?" as he was placed in the back of a cruiser.
He could face inducing panic or obstructing official business charges, Whitman said.
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