MANCHESTER, NH – You can swim, but you can’t hide – that is the moral of this story for Timothy Winslow, 22, of 420 Belmont St., Manchester, who was arrested early Saturday after swimming across the Merrimack River to evade police following an alleged shoplifting from Kohl’s in Bedford.
On December 23 just before midnight Manchester police officers responded to the area of 293 North on the West Side of the city for a report of a man who had fled from both Bedford Police and State Police, crossed the highway, and then was beleived to jump into the Merrimack River.
State Police notified all responding units that there was a fresh set of tracks on the west side of the river leading down a steep embankment and right into the river. Information from Bedford Police was the male suspect fled from the area of Kohl’s while being detained for a possible theft from that store.
Most of the city units began to set up a perimeter on the east side of the river after a resident of Dunbar Street called to report a male had just come up from the riverbank on the east side and walked off towards Hurd Street. After responding to the caller’s address on Dunbar Street, Officer Richard Valenti Jr., began a track with Axel, his dog partner, which led them along the railroad tracks northerly towards the rear of Firestone. A short time later, at approximately 12:30 a.m. Officer Kevin O’Meara located a man, later identified as Winslow, behind The Music Mill (377 Elm St.).
Winslow took off running but was caught a short distance away. He was soaking wet after swimming across the Merrimack River to evade pursuit. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Winslow was charged with one count of resisting arrest or detention (misdemeanor). He is due to be arraigned in the 9th Circuit Court Manchester on January 31, 2017. Winslow was turned over to Bedford Police after being bailed.
