Officer gets a chilling as chase enters creek

LEHI — A Lehi police officer was treated for hypothermia after he chased a wanted man into a creek next to I-15 late Saturday.

The incident began at 10:45 p.m. near mile marker 278 when Lehi officer Tim Hunsaker stopped a driver for not having valid insurance. Hunsaker soon found the 23-year-old man was not only barefoot but was wanted on at least two felony warrants.

As Hunsaker brought out the handcuffs, the man took off. He ran down the I-15 embankment and fell into the creek while trying to cross a barbed wire fence, Lehi Sgt. Jeff Swenson said.

"The fence kind of tripped him up and he went flying into the water," Swenson said.

Hunsaker also jumped into the creek, which was about 4 feet deep, Swenson said. The barefoot man initially escaped capture, and Hunsaker was treated at a local hospital for hypothermia.

The 23-year-old man took refuge in a nearby neighborhood and eluded a police search. He apparently spent the night in a shed under some spare carpet, Swenson said.

Police arrested the man about 10 a.m. Sunday after he sought help from area residents. He said his car had broken down and he needed help, but the neighbors were well aware of what had happened the night before and contacted police, Swenson said.

The man was transported to a local hospital, treated for minor injuries and booked into the Utah County Jail.