Motorist jumps into Missouri River while fleeing police in Kansas City

A motorist trying to elude police jumped off the Broadway Bridge at midmorning Wednesday following an hourlong pursuit initiated by Clay County sheriff’s deputies.

He swam through the river and climbed out near the Heart of America Bridge before disappearing into woods, authorities said.

Deputies and other law enforcement officials converged on the area. They summoned a police helicopter to help locate the Excelsior Springs man, who police described as being in his 20s.

About 10 minutes later, he jumped back into the river and began treading water. Police quickly arrested him at that point.

The incident began an hour earlier, about 9:40 a.m., on Missouri 152 near Platte Purchase Drive when Clay County deputies attempted to pull over a westbound driver because his vehicle’s license plates were not registered to the vehicle.

Instead of stopping, he sped west into Platte County, said Capt. Will Akin, a spokesman for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

He drove into Kansas City, North, and into Kansas City, Kan. Other law enforcement joined the pursuit, which reached a top speed of only 50 mph.

After the man drove back into Clay County, law enforcement officers deflated the vehicle’s tires with stop sticks.

The chase slowed to 15 mph before the man got out and jumped into the river, Akin said.

The man was being held Wednesday evening in the Clay County Detention Center.

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Motorist jumps into Missouri River while fleeing police in Kansas City."