Caught on camera: Cold, wet suspect surrenders to police
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SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - A search for a man who ran from police and and jumped in the McKenzie River ended when the cold and wet suspect surrendered to police.
“He just ran into the river," said Springfield Police Sgt. Joh Umenhofer on Thursday. "They said he ran and dove into the river and just started swimming.”
KVAL News caught the suspect's surrender on camera.
The incident started Thursday afternoon when police in Springfield stopped a car on Highway 126.
The passenger in the car, Kirk Daniel Soben, 21, jumped out of the car and ran away. Police said Soben had several felony warrants for his arrest and knew he was wanted.
Soben ran to the Mckenzie River and jumped in the water. He floated downstream in an attempt to get away, then apparently swam across the river and got out of the water.
Soben hid for about an hour before turning himself in to police. Cold and wet, police said Soben showed symptoms of hypothermia.
“It’s really an act of desperation when you start swimming across the river," said Umenhofer with Soben behind him in a police cruiser. "This is a very treacherous river. The temperature is real low. The chances of it being fatal is really, really high.”
Umenhofer said Soben will be charged with felony allude by foot.
