Fleeing man arrested after driving into river

— A man police were chasing drove his car into the Arkansas River, got out and swam to a small island before finally being apprehended, officials said Thursday.

Little Rock Fire Department Capt. Randy Hickmon said his agency was called to rescue the man from the island about 5 a.m. Thursday.

Hickmon said he didn't have information on what started the chase, but he said police were pursuing the man in a vehicle when he drove onto the Rebsamen Park Golf Course and ultimately into the river at the nearby boat ramp.

Hickmon said the man at some point exited the vehicle and swam to the small island. A police officer swam after him and took him into custody on the island, Hickmon said.

Neither the man nor the officer was injured, he said.

The man was taken to police headquarters. An agency arrest log didn't include any information on the case at 7 a.m.

"We don't know what he was charged with," Hickmon said. "But I would guess a lot."

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