After officers conducted a traffic stop, the man exited his vehicle and fled on foot, before jumping into the canal
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A 36-year-old man died after allegedly jumping into the Erie Canal to evade police
- The incident occurred on March 26 after police in Tonawanda, N.Y., initiated a traffic stop, which prompted the man to flee on foot
- An investigation later found that the man had outstanding warrants for his arrest from two other local law enforcement agencies
A 36-year-old man is dead after he allegedly attempted to evade police by jumping into the historic Erie Canal.
According to the City of Tonawanda Police Department (CTPD) in Tonawanda, N.Y., located about 10 miles from downtown Buffalo, officers observed a gray Volvo sedan commit a vehicle and traffic law violation at the intersection of Main and Niagara Streets at around 1:12 a.m. local time on Thursday, March 26.
After the vehicle proceeded over the Renaissance Bridge into North Tonawanda, a traffic stop was initiated on Webster Street.
The male driver fled on foot, leading police to pursue him through an alley and toward Gateway Harbor along the Erie Canal.
Credit: Getty
The assailant then suddenly jumped into the canal — which runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie — in an attempt to evade police, the CTPD said.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.         Â
Additional officers responded to the scene with water rescue equipment. A water rescue throw bag was deployed to the man, and officers began pulling him to shore. However, during the rescue effort, the man fell unconscious, at which point an officer entered the water and brought him on shore, where lifesaving measures were performed, per the CTPD.
The man was transported by ambulance to Kenmore Mercy Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
An investigation into the incident revealed that the man had outstanding warrants for his arrest from two other Erie County law enforcement agencies.
Police are not releasing the man's identity until his family has been notified. The investigation remains ongoing, per the CTPD.
Read the full article here
