Man in jail after jumping into Great Miami River to elude troopers during pursuit

DAYTON — A man was in critical condition after he jumped into the Great Miami River in Dayton in an effort to escape state troopers during a pursuit early Sunday morning, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol spokesperson.

Richard Fields Jr., 26, of Dayton, was identified by state troopers as the driver injured during the incident. He was booked into the Montgomery County jail on February 23 and facing carrying a concealed weapon, drug possession, failure to comply, and improperly handling a firearm charges.

State troopers initiated a pursuit of the car Fields was driving after spotting it driving the wrong way on the Stanley Avenue exit ramps from I-75, just before 1 a.m. Sunday, state troopers said in a media release.

Fields refused to stop the car and continued to drive the wrong way on Stanley Avenue before driving through a grassy median to go in the correct direction south on I-75. After exiting the highway at the Salem Avenue exit, the pursuit continued onto multiple surface streets in downtown Dayton.

CRUISER CAM: Fleeing suspect jumps into Great Miami River

As the car started to smoke heavily on Longworth Street, the pursuit continued onto West Washington Street when the vehicle came to a stop.

According to state troopers, Fields then got out of the car and led state troopers and police on a brief foot chase before he jumped into the river.

The state trooper jumped into the river and rescued Fields from drowning and got him to shore with help from a Dayton police officer, state troopers said. After pulling him from the river, state troopers saw that Fields was not breathing and administered chest compressions to make him responsive. He was then transported to Miami Valley Hospital for treatment.

During the subsequent investigation, Fields was found to be in possession of illegal drugs and a loaded handgun, according to investigators. State troopers also noted that Fields was a previously convicted felon.

Two other people were in the car during the incident, both of which were not injured. One person was released and the other was taken into custody due to an active warrant for his arrest from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, state troopers said.

Potential charges against Fields are still pending, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Additional details were not released.

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