Authorities suspended a search for a man they believe jumped from an Arkansas River bridge in Jefferson County on Monday, saying the current was too rapid.
Police said they suspect Corey Jermaine Simmons, 43, of Pine Bluff, leaped from the U.S. 79 bridge northeast of Pine Bluff early Monday. Jefferson County deputies and the county's marine, dive and rescue team searched the river for several hours but stopped when conditions on the river worsened.
Jefferson County sheriff's office spokesman Major Lafayette Woods Jr. said a passerby notified police of seeing an abandoned truck on the Arkansas River bridge along U.S. 79 North. The engine was still running, but no one was in the truck, Woods said.
Authorities checked the truck's license plate and found it belonged to Simmons, who lives in the 600 block of South Texas Street in Pine Bluff. Deputies called the residence, but no one answered.
Simmons is listed as a Level 3 sex offender with the Arkansas Crime Information Center's Sex Offender Registry. Information on the center's website indicated Simmons had been convicted of rape. No date of conviction was listed.
Woods said deputies discovered that Simmons sent text messages to family members earlier Monday saying Simmons loved them.
"All indications are that he knew he was going to do that, and he messaged his family," Woods said.
Heavy rain last week caused the Arkansas River to rise, making the search for Simmons' body dangerous, the spokesman said.
The river was at 31.8 feet Monday morning and was expected to crest at 32.5 feet at 7 a.m. today. Flood stage at Pine Bluff is 42 feet.
The river flow was gauged at 46,700 cubic feet per second Monday morning, the National Weather Service at North Little Rock reported. It was expected to increase to 53,900 cubic feet per second by nightfall and 75,000 cubic feet by noon today.
Woods said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it could close the Emmitt Sanders lock and dam north of the bridge for 15 minutes to lessen the river's current, but the time would be too short.
"It wouldn't have given us enough time," Woods said. "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
He said searchers may resume their task this morning if the river's current abated, but he expects the search to be postponed until at least Wednesday. Rescue workers may use cadaver dogs, he said.
"Our divers are well-trained, but they are using the utmost caution," he said.
The weather service is forecasting more rain for the area Wednesday and Thursday, but that won't affect the river's current, said meteorologist Jeff Hood.
Northern Arkansas could receive up to an inch of rainfall during the two days, but central and southern Arkansas will only see about a quarter to half an inch of rain, Hood said.
"We've had some dry days, giving the Arkansas River a chance to recover," he said. "With little rainfall expected, the river is ready to receive more water."
State Desk on 03/24/2015