Man Jumps Into Naugatuck River To Elude Police

Police said a 29-year-old shoplifter from Oxford tried to escape capture by swimming in the Naugatuck River.

Police received a report of a shoplifter at the Stop & Shop on Franklin Street at about 8:30 p.m.

Store employees gave cops a description of the suspect. Officers spotted a man matching the description nearby. The man fled on foot on Route 67, heading toward Main Street.

The individual jumped over the guard rail and entered the Naugatuck River,” Seymour police spokesman Lt. Paul Satkowski said.

The suspect was identified as John Demartino.

Demartino waded for a bit in a few feet of water. When the officers entered the river to snag him, Demartino headed toward deeper water and began to swim downriver. 

How’d that work out for him?

Not so good,” Satkowski said.

Demartino was in the river about 10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, police called for the fire department and EMS to respond to the river, anticipating the incident would turn into a water rescue.

He probably came to his senses,” Satkowski said. As he came closer to the shore, two officers were able to grab him and place him under arrest.”

He was taken into custody at the Bank Street bridge, not far from the police department.

Demartino was transported to Griffin Hospital as a precautionary measure to get checked for hypothermia, Satkowski said.

The officers who entered the river to fetch Demartino were not injured.

He is charged with sixth-degree larceny and interfering with a police officer. During the booking process, cops found drug paraphernalia on him, Satkowski said, so he was charged with that, too.

Satkowski declined to reveal what type of drug paraphernalia was allegedly found.

Police said Demartino stole $225.59 worth of merchandise from Stop & Shop. Police declined to name any of the items.

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