Man jumps into CT river after robbery

SPRINGFIELD, MAss. (WWLP) - An alleged Springfield burglar is presumed to have drowned Sunday morning in the Connecticut River somewhere between the North End Bridge and the trestle just before the Memorial Bridge.

22News was down at the riverbank just after 4:30 a.m. after the alleged burglar reportedly jumped into the river to escape from police. He had supposedly broken into a home on Lowell Street in the city’s Brightwood neighborhood.

Police Lt. James Russo told 22News, search teams from Springfield, West Springfield and Agawam had spotted the man in the river for about 20 minutes before he disappeared.

Dennis Leger, the aide to Springfield Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant told 22News, the fire department has called off the search some three hours after it began.

He said had the fugitive managed to swim to shore he would have been arrested by the many police officers on both sides of the river.

Leger believes the man managed to swim several hundred feet before he drowned. His body hasn't been recovered.