Local man allegedly jumps in river to escape police

A Great Falls man was arrested Thursday after allegedly attempting to elude authorities by trying to swim across the Missouri River.

The incident started at 7:38 p.m. on Central Avenue West when the man was in 1992 Chevrolet Lumina that was pulled over for not having license plates, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Dell Aman said. It was later learned the vehicle had not been registered.

The man was a passenger in the vehicle and during the course of the traffic stop it was learned he was on federal probation and had some drug paraphernalia.

The MHP was conducting its investigation, when, Aman said, the man "decided to release himself to his own recognizance" and jumped into the river.

The man reportedly swam halfway across the river, turned around and returned to the west bank, where he was apprehended by Great Falls police and turned over to the MHP.

Jason Bryan Martin, 31, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer and possession of drug paraphernalia, Aman said. He was reportedly taken to the Cascade County Jail.

The two other people in the vehicle were released.

Aman said he was not surprised by the man's chosen method of evading officers.

"I have been doing this job a long time and I have seen a lot of stuff," he said. "It didn't seem extraordinary to me. He saw a river there and used it as a means of escape. I would have used a bridge."