Man missing after falling into North Saskatchewan River trying to flee police

Alberta’s police watchdog — the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) — says they are investigating the events surrounding a man’s disappearance in the North Saskatchewan River on Tuesday.

ASIRT says around 2:15 a.m., Edmonton Police Service officers attempted to stop a man on a bike for a bylaw infraction near 93 Street and 82 Avenue.

The officers reportedly turned on their emergency lights and told the man to stop, but he fled on his bike into the ravine and headed west towards the Old Timers Cabin on Scona Road.

Police say a short time later, the man was seen heading toward the south bank of the river, just east of the Walterdale Bridge, where he was again told to stop.

EPS says it was at this time, the man jumped from the bank onto the river ice and drifted away from the shore. Not long later, he was pulled under the water.

Following this, police began to search the river with the help of Air1 and other resources, but have not been able to locate the man.

Investigators are also in the process of trying to confirm the man’s identity.