Swimmer gets jail

Enderby man who tried to escape police in Shuswap River apprehended

An Enderby man was sentenced to 21 days in jail for eluding police which included a midnight swim in the Shuswap River.

Cameron Bierk Josesph Christen, 34, was given the jail term in Salmon Arm Provincial Court on Tuesday. He had been charged with unlawful escape from custody.

Christen will be placed on 12 months probation at the end of his jail term.

He was wanted on a previous warrant when police approached him to arrest him on the evening of Nov. 3 in Enderby, just before midnight. Christen evaded captured by jumping into the Shuswap River near the downtown bridge.

He was last seen a mile downstream, and Search and Rescue personnel were called in case he had drowned.

The search was called off Nov. 4 when police learned Christen had been seen by acquaintances.

Police found Christen on Nov. 9 and he again took off, but there were enough members along with a police services dog this time to convince the suspect to give himself up.

 

 

Vernon Morning Star