This dude is hatin life!!
AN ICY END TO HOT PURSUIT
Poor decision lands man in river, then jail.
Date published: 1/25/2011
BY KEITH EPPS
A man's attempt to avoid a routine traffic stop ended with him being dragged out of the icy Rappahannock River by a police dog early Saturday, police said.
The suspect, who fell down an embankment during his ill-fated flight, was treated at the hospital for a possible broken nose and other injuries before being placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail on multiple charges, including felony eluding.
According to Fredericksburg police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe, the incident began about 12:20 a.m. when an officer saw a vehicle come from Pelham Street onto Princess Anne Street without stopping.
When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, Bledsoe said, the driver went into the Central Station parking lot and drove to the back of the building.
There were a number of cars and people in the lot, and several people had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit, police said.
After stopping the car in the back, Bledsoe said the driver fell out of the car, got up and ran into some trees. He then tumbled down a steep embankment onto Caroline Street.
Police could hear him running across Caroline Street toward the river. A police dog, Falco, arrived and tracked the man's scent along an old access road.
Bledsoe said police spotted the man near an old pumping station and saw him jump into the water.
Falco jumped in after the man and dragged him back toward the shore. The dog let go briefly but clamped down on the man again when it appeared he was going to flee again.
Daryl Anthony Stewart, 25, of Spotsylvania County was finally taken into custody. In addition to the felony charge, he was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusing to take a breath test, driving on a suspended license, possession of marijuana and failing to stop at a stop sign.
Police said Stewart was covered with mud and bleeding from the face when he got out of the river. He had ice on his clothes and dog bites on his back and shoulder. He eventually got stitches in his face.
Bledsoe said Stewart told police that his nose injury was the result of an assault earlier in the evening inside Central Station.
The car belonged to the passenger, a 22-year-old Alexandria man who stayed inside the car while the suspect fled. He was charged with public intoxication.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com
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