KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety believes they have recovered the body of a man who abandoned his motorcycle and ran into the Kalamazoo River to evade police last month.
Officers Tuesday responded to an area of the Kalamazoo River just north of the Patterson Street bridge on the report of a body in the water. On arrival, KDPS detectives, the Crime Lab, and Operations Division personnel from patrol, and the Technical Rescue Team were all involved in the recovery.
In a news release late Tuesday afternoon, KDPS officials said, “Although we cannot confirm the identity of the body recovered at this time, we are working to determine whether this body is that of the man who fled from officers back on January 1. When the identity of the body is known, we will provide that information.”
Around 4:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day a KDPS officer initiated a traffic stop on a motorcycle for a license plate violation near Michigan Avenue and Rose Street.
The motorcyclist did not stop and fled from the officer. The motorcycle experienced mechanical issues and became disabled allowing the officer to catch up to the motorcycle near Harrison and East Michigan Avenue.
The driver abandoned the motorcycle and fled on foot with the KDPS officer giving chase. The subject fled through Veteran’s Memorial Park and ran into and attempted to cross the Kalamazoo River.
Police say the river current pushed him downstream, and officers observed him go under water and did not resurface. Several officers entered the river in an attempt to rescue the individual; however, he was not found.
KDPS searched for the man throughout the evening and the next day using the Kalamazoo County Dive Team, KDPS rescue boats, and their aviation unit.
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