38-year-old Kansas City man drowned in Blue River while fleeing from police

Police on Wednesday identified a man who drowned in the Blue River while fleeing from officers as 38-year-old Justin Tarpening of Kansas City.

Tarpening drowned after walking into the Blue River and disappearing, police said. Divers pulled his body from the river Friday afternoon.

About 11 p.m. on Oct. 18 police officers spotted a suspect in a domestic assault and burglary case getting into a pickup truck near Eastwood Trafficway and Blue Parkway. Police said Wednesday that Tarpening was the suspect.

When police activated their emergency lights and siren in an attempt to pull Tarpening over, he refused to stop and fled. Officers terminated their pursuit.

Later that night, police and Jackson County Sheriff deputies found Tarpening standing outside the truck near the Blue River near 12th Street and Interstate 435.

Tarpening fled into the river and struggled to swim before going underwater and disappearing, police said. A deputy swam into the river but was unable to find him.

The Kansas City Fire Department searched the river. Divers returned to the area Friday and crews dragged the river.

Tarpening’s body was found just before 1 p.m., according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.