Suspect Dives Into Russian River Twice While Trying to Evade Sonoma Deputies, Gets Arrested

"A wanted felon led Sonoma County sheriff's deputies on a one-hour chase Thursday in which a vehicle pursuit turned into a foot pursuit and then a water pursuit in the frigid Russian River. The incident began on Thursday afternoon, when authorities appear to have been seeking out the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Raymundo Navarro Jimenez. Navarro Jimenez had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of San Joaquin County for narcotics-related charges and possession of child pornography, and it's not clear how the pursuit began."

"A thermal image from the county's helicopter, Henry 1, shows him darting into a wooded area, after climbing out of the river the first time. Sheriff's deputies in the air were able to keep eyes on Navarro Jimenez nearly the entire time, and for over an hour he apparently jumped into the river, floated down it, and climbed out of it, trying to evade capture."

Raymundo Navarro Jimenez, 25, had an outstanding San Joaquin County warrant for narcotics-related charges and possession of child pornography. Following an unspecified vehicle pursuit, deputies located him near River Road and watched him head to the Russian River on foot. He swam across, hid near homes on Riverside Drive, and repeatedly entered and exited the frigid river while floating downstream for over an hour. A thermal image from the county helicopter Henry 1 and airborne deputies tracked him nearly continuously. A low-flying helicopter used a searchlight, a marine rescue unit offered a life preserver, and a California State Parks lifeguard helped bring him ashore. He was arrested and booked, including additional evading and resisting arrest charges.

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