EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Eugene police say a handcuffed man ran from officers and jumped in the Willamette River, swimming away for about 15 minutes before police used a fire department boat to catch up with him on a downstream island.
The Register-Guard says Beau Walker Hodge was then booked into the Lane County Jail on Tuesday for investigation of consuming alcohol on unlicensed premises, giving false information to police, and escape. Police spokeswoman Melinda McLaughlin says he also had outstanding warrants for failing to appear on misdemeanor assault and menacing charges and providing false information. She says the 30-year-old man has no known address.
With his hands restrained, McLaughlin says the man “looked like he was basically treading water on his back and he was kicking.”
Officers ordered Hodge out of the river but McLaughlin says he refused, saying he would rather die than go to jail.
