PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
A suspected burglar is recovering from an icy plunge after he jumped into the Columbia River to escape arrest, Portland police say.
It all started about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at Pier 99 off of North Marine Drive.
Officials say they got a call about a burglary in the area and when officers started searching, the suspect, 21-year-old Randy Holton, stripped off his clothes and jumped in the river.
However, he didn't get far because of the water temperature.
Workers at Diversified Marine Incorporated say they saw Holton pull himself onto a nearby dock and didn't have any more options from there.
"You could see the guy getting out of the water at Ross Island Sand and Gravel," says witness Jeff Calfee. "He was really cold and tired and looked like he could barely get out. It was light out at this point, and police could see him and he wasn't going anywhere at that point."
Holton was taken to a hospital. There is no word yet on what charges he could be facing.
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