Man arrested after fleeing Paducah police, jumping into creek

A man was arrested in Paducah after fleeing from a traffic stop and jumping into a nearby creek.

On Thursday Paducah police stopped a car in the area of Broad Street and Bridge Street. The driver pulled into a parking lot on Bridge Street, then fled on foot.

Police pursued the man who ran down a steep embankment and jumped into a creek. As additional officers quickly arrived and surrounded the area. The man, later identified as Jamey Donelson, swam across the creek during the 25-degree weather conditions before swimming back toward officers who assisted him out of the water and placed him under arrest without further incident. 

Due to the exposure to frigid cold water and below freezing temperatures, Donelson was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation before he was lodged at the McCracken County Regional Jail.

Donelson was found to already have active arrest warrants for fleeing or evading police, and for assault and dating violence, among other charges. Police charged Donelson with additional drug and traffic offenses.