Second Robber Jumps Into Hudson River To Avoid Arrest, Police Say

HARLEM, NY — Here's some free advice for robbery suspects: police can swim, and they have boats.

A man was arrested Monday night after jumping into the Hudson River while fleeing police officers, an NYPD spokeswoman told Patch. Rafael Guzman, 32, was being chased in Riverbank State Park, near West 145th Street, when he leaped from a seawall into the river, police told Patch.

FDNY marine units helped pull Guzman from the river by throwing him a floating ring, an NYPD spokeswoman said. After Guzman caught the ring, NYPD divers helped bring him aboard a Harbor Unit boat, the spokeswoman said.

Once on the boat Guzman began to struggle with police, biting one officer in the hand, police said. Guzman was pepper sprayed and brought to land where he was arrested by Parks Police officers, an NYPD spokeswoman told Patch.

Guzman was suspected of robbing a man in the park around 7:45 p.m., police said. He approached his victim, displayed a threatening object and punched him in the head before stealing a cellphone, police told Patch.

Guzman has been charged with robbery, assault, resisting arrest, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing, an NYPD spokeswoman told Patch.

The officer who was bit by Guzman was taken to the hospital in stable condition, police said.

Guzman's arrest was the second time a suspect fleeing police has jumped into the Hudson this month.

Photo by Patch