Wanted man arrested after swimming across river located by drone

The man fled from officers, diving into a river and swimming to an island; he was then located by the drone and arrested

January 20, 2025 07:00 AM

Search and rescue volunteer leaves home to respond to fire, comes back to find it burning — Police then used a drone to determine the man’s location and enlisted the fire department to take the man into custody. The fire department launched a small yellow raft into the river and recovered the man, who was promptly placed under arrest.

By Charlie McKenna
masslive.com

CHICOPEE, Mass. — A man with several outstanding warrants for his arrest attempted to flee police by making his way into the Chicopee River only to be taken into custody by the city’s fire department, the police department said.

Officers initially “made contact” with the man and attempted to arrest him, but he fled from police on foot, running down the bank of the river and into the water. The man made his way out to an island in the river and attempted to elude arrest, police wrote in a Facebook post.

Police then used a drone to determine the man’s location and enlisted the fire department to take the man into custody. The fire department launched a small yellow raft into the river and recovered the man, who was promptly placed under arrest.

He was taken to a hospital for evaluation due to being in the water and his exposure to icy cold conditions.

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