Today the Appleton Police department was called to a burglary in progress in the 1700 block of W. Reid drive.
Witnesses noticed a window smashed out of a house and saw a male leave the back door of the residence and then saw him run away.
Officers located the suspect along the Fox River so to attempt to evade capture, he jumped into the river and tried to swim away.
Officers then used throwable lifesaving buoys to attempt to get the man to come to shore, but he refused.
He swam out into the river channel and began to swim downstream. The Appleton Fire Department Water Rescue team and Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department Dive team responded with equipment and personnel. Appleton officers found the subject in the water at approximately 10:06 AM and were assisted in getting him into custody by the Appleton Fire Department.
With the assistance of Appleton Fire, Gold Cross and the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department, the Appleton Police Department took a burglary suspect, who had jumped in the Fox River, into custody.
The suspect, a 26 year old homeless male, was brought back to the boat landing at Lutz Park aboard the Appleton Fire Department’s rescue boat. He was transported to a local hospital to be medically cleared. He is confined at the Outagamie County Jail on a warrant charge.
An Appleton officer suffered a minor head injury during the incident. He was treated and released at a local hospital.
The Appleton Police Department is continuing its investigation into the residence on W. Reid Drive.
