Man ditches car, floats down river in Missouri after fleeing traffic stop, police say
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A man in Missouri was arrested after attempting to escape from police by floating down a river to flee a traffic stop on Friday, according to officials.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook the incident unfolded around 8:30 a.m. when the 38-year-old man attempted to escape from police by floating down the Bourbeuse River.
The incident happened near the town of Union, located about 50 miles west of St. Louis.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING SPREE LEAVES AT LEAST 1 DEAD, 11 WOUNDED, POLICE SAY
Maj. Trevor Wild, of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the man drove through a hayfield and ditched his car Friday morning before he attempted to swim down the river.
Officials said the 38-year-old was initially stopped for driving without a license and failing to yield to law enforcement.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The man was seen in the river at 8:30 a.m. in the area of Shawneetown Ford Road in Union, wearing a blue mechanics' type button-up shirt.
Officials said the man came out of the river and was caught by 1:30 p.m., five hours later.
AT LEAST 17 PEOPLE INJURED IN MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS OVERNIGHT IN NYC
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Wild told the Post-Dispatch police arrested him but the 38-year-old was later released.
The man's identity was not released.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Wild said although it is definitely not normal, this is not the first time someone has attempted to escape by floating down a river. He said it has happened several times before.