A SENIOR police officer has told how a fellow cop "risked his own safety" to arrest a wanted man who jumped in the river to avoid police in Coonamble.
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About 8.30pm on Wednesday, April 29, police identified a man who was wanted on three outstanding court warrants, according to Inspector Rodney Shoesmith from Castlereagh Local Area Command.
He said when the wanted man saw police, he ran down an embankment and into the river to avoid arrest.
Inspector Shoesmith said police spent the next 40 minutes searching before the man was found holding on to a tree branch, "attempting to conceal himself whilst in the water".
"A police officer entered the river and swam towards the male," he said.
"The male appeared incapable of holding his own weight or moving since being in the cold water for about 40 minutes.
"The male was carried out of the river, up the embankment by police whereby he was arrested with police rendering first aid until Ambulance arrived."
Inspector Shoesmith said the man was charged with the three outstanding warrants and was refused bail.
"This is an example of the dedication the local police have when really one officer risked his own safety to rescue and arrest this male who was attempting to avoid apprehension," he said.
"The male was extremely lucky that the police located him in the river as early as they did.
"He was suffering from the cold water when he was arrested by the police officers so it was a pleasing result. You could say it was a win-win for all involved."
