Suspect flees Jackson police, jumps into creek

Jackson police officers searched Hubble Creek for several hours Monday night, looking for a suspect who ran off with one of his wrists in handcuffs.

The incident started at about 8:30 p.m. when police discovered a car stranded in a low-water crossing at Mary Street near the city park.

According to police chief James Humphreys, an officer checked on the vehicle and smelled intoxicants. The officer searched the vehicle, found drugs and attempted to arrest the male and female occupants of the car. Both suspects resisted arrest. The officer arrested the female, but the male got away and fled into Hubble Creek, which was running quickly after heavy rains Monday.

The police began searching with dogs, but had not captured the suspect by the time the Southeast Missourian went to press. The Jackson police department was assisted by the Cape Girardeau County sheriff's department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Jackson Fire Department.

Humphreys said the police did not know if the man was armed.

Police did not release names of the suspects, although they had identified the female.