Update: Man found dead in Yampa River following extensive search
Steamboat Springs — A 22-year-old man who jumped into the Yampa River overnight to evade police was found dead downriver near the Steamboat Golf Club Monday afternoon following an extensive search.
Steamboat Springs Police Chief Cory Christensen said a search team found the man’s body submerged in the river. The man’s identity has not been released.
Routt County Search and Rescue search teams were using boats and a helicopter Monday morning as they scoured the riverbanks for the man.
The man was last seen partially submerged in the river and not actively swimming around midnight near Sleepy Bear Mobile Home Park.
Christensen said the incident started Sunday night at 11:40 p.m. when officers were called to a report of a disturbance in a downtown alley involving a man who had allegedly attempted to steal someone’s purse.
When officers arrived, they found the 22-year-old man lying on the ground in the alley near 737 Lincoln Ave. Officers labeled the man as a suspect in the attempted theft of the purse.
“He’s intoxicated. He’s somewhat uncooperative. Officers were trying to determine what was going on,” Christensen said.
The man also appeared to be injured. After paramedics arrived to check on the man, Christensen said the man took off running. He then jumped into the Yampa at Ninth Street near Backdoor Sports.
For more on this story, go to steamboattoday.com.