SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — A 29-year-old man was arrested Monday after he attempted to flee from a Salt Lake City Police officer by jumping into the Jordan River. The man, identified as Rafael Robles Sanchez, faces multiple charges, including failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia offenses.
The incident unfolded on the Jordan River Parkway Trail, where an officer patrolling the area noticed a man pushing a stroller. The officer, whose emergency lights were activated, observed the man briefly look at the vehicle before quickly abandoning the stroller and running away in the opposite direction.
Despite repeated commands from the officer to stop, Sanchez continued to flee. The officer pursued the man, but Sanchez’s escape took a dramatic turn when he leapt into the river. As the officer and additional law enforcement officers closed in, Sanchez managed to evade capture for a brief time before jumping back into the water.
Assisting officers, along with members of the Salt Lake City Fire Department’s Water Rescue team, worked together to apprehend Sanchez in the river. The rescue team successfully reached him in a boat, pulling him to safety before taking him into custody.
Sanchez was transported to a local hospital to be treated for hypothermia before being booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail. During the arrest, officers found a disposable THC cartridge, a glass pipe, and a piece of tin foil with burnt residue in his possession.
Sanchez now faces charges that include failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.
The incident highlights the continuing efforts of law enforcement to monitor the Jordan River Parkway Trail area and underscores the dangers of evading police, particularly in dangerous situations such as jumping into the river.