KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The search continues for a motorcyclist who evaded police, ditched his bike, then vanished into the Kalamazoo River Monday afternoon.
Around 4:30 p.m. Monday an officer with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety tried to pull the motorcyclist over in the area of Michigan Avenue and Rose Street for a license plate violation. KDPS says the motorcyclist wouldn’t stop, but officers were eventually able to catch up with him in the area of Harrison Street and East Michigan Avenue, less than a mile from the traffic stop attempt.
The motorcyclist ditched the bike and ran away, heading through Veteran’s Memorial Park with the officer giving chase.
On bodycam footage from the officer, he is heard yelling “Stop! Stop! Stop, police, stop,” to the suspect. The video then shows the man hop a fence and run into the water, initially trying to swim across but then stopping mid-river. Initially officers didn’t follow him into the water, but eventually did as he reached the middle of the river.
Officers then saw him go under the water and never saw him come back up
KDPS says they brought in rescue boats, the Kalamazoo County Dive Team, and air units, but they didn’t find the motorcyclist Monday. They were back out on the water Tuesday to continue the search.
Anyone who may have information about the motorcyclist is asked to call KDPS detectives at (269)337-8139 or Silent Observer at (269)343-2100.
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