ITHACA, N.Y. –– Ithaca Police performed a water rescue Wednesday morning after a man known to have warrants against him attempted to evade arrest by fleeing into an inlet of Cayuga Lake.
Police spotted 32 year-old Joshua Seaman, known to have multiple warrants for resisting arrest and violation of probation, while out investigating unrelated incidents. Officers attempted to stop Seaman, who fled.
In order to evade officers, Seaman jumped into the inlet to the east of Taughannock Boulevard near West Buffalo Street. According to IPD, the temperature outside was 31 degrees at the time.
Officers were able to pull Seaman out of the water at which time they rendered first-aid to him until medical personnel arrived on scene. Seaman was transported to Cayuga Medical Center via ambulance in the custody of IPD.
Seaman has been issued appearance tickets to return to Ithaca City Court at a later date. Custody was turned over to Dryden Police regarding the violation of probation. There are no further details available for release at this time.
Correction: the original version of this article stated that the water temperature was likely colder than 31 degrees –– the temperature outside at the time of the incident –– when that is in fact not known nor likely. The purpose of the statement was to express that water temperatures probably appeared colder to the suspect than the air outside.