Suspect Fleeing From Cops Walks Miles On Frozen Pittsburgh River

PITTSBURGH, PA — A suspect attempting to elude police spent hours walking on a frozen Pittsburgh river on Wednesday.

Police were dispatched at around 1 p.m. to the 7100 block of Highland Drive regarding a report of someone trespassing on the former VA site.

Upon arrival, officers located a man inside the property who fled on foot. Officers tracked the man to Allegheny River Boulevard. Despite repeated verbal commands, the man repeatedly walked onto the ice on the Allegheny River.

Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS River Rescue unit, Rescue 2, Unit 500 and 501, and Ice Rescue 5FR6 responded to the scene, alongside North Zone Fire and EMS, to assist the various public safety partners.

At approximately 4: p.m. the man exited the ice and was taken into custody by officers in the 2600 block of Freeport Road in Harmar - about six miles upriver from where he began.

EMS took the unidentified man to the hospital in stable condition.

Charges are expected, police said.

The incident occurred around the same time the National Weather Service posted on social media to avoid walking on frozen rivers because it's dangerous to do so.