A man who jumped into the Kickemuit River to avoid arrest last week ended up soaked, cold and facing a day in court. Richard Rego, 38, of 384 Metacom Ave., had been wanted for failure to appear in court on theft charges for allegedly stealing an aluminum boat ramp from a Water Street boatyard in February. At about 8:30 p.m. last Tuesday, April 29, police spotted a car driven by Mr. Rego's girlfriend traveling east on Child Street near the Waterview Condominiums. Knowing that in the past Mr. Rego has tried to elude detection by lying down in the back seat of cars, police pulled the woman's car over on southern Serpentine Road.

When police stopped and approached the car, Mr. Rego allegedly fled, jumped down an embankment and into the river. Patrolman Randy Bryant pursued him into knee-deep water until he lost sight of him. By then, other officers had arrived and six, including Warren Police Chief Thomas Gordon and Patrolwoman Kristen Beaulieu, joined in the search, scanning the shoreline for the suspect. The water temperature was in the low 50s.

A short time later ,Patrolman Jason Canario, stationed on the other side of the river, saw Mr. Rego swim ashore near the condominiums, where police took him into custody without incident. Mr. Rego, who was arrested on the failure to appear warrant and was also charged with obstructing an officer in the execution of his duty, had been in the river for approximately 20 minutes. He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital and treated for hypothermia.

The following day, Mr. Rego appeared in court and pleaded no contest to the obstruction charge. He received one year of probation.

Rob Merwin

rmerwin@eastbaynewspapers.com