The man, 24-year-old Jaylu Laboy of 31 Nye Street, "hasn't turned up yet, alive or dead," Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said in an interview Thursday.
Jaylu LaboySPRINGFIELD — Authorities are continuing their search for a Springfield man who evaded police on foot in the early morning hours Sunday and jumped off the North End Bridge into the cold waters of the Connecticut River.
The man, 24-year-old Jaylu Laboy of 31 Nye St., "hasn't turned up yet, alive or dead," Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said in an interview Thursday.
"There's a small possibility" that he made it to shore, Delaney said. "Stranger things have happened."
If Laboy died in the fall, he wouldn't be declared dead until a body is recovered.
Laboy was involved in a foot chase with Springfield police officers Angel Marrero and Orlando Acevedo around 4 a.m. Sunday after the pair was dispatched to 39 Lowell Street in the Brightwood neighborhood for a reported breaking and entering.
"Upon their arrival they were confronted by a shirtless male in the middle of the street in a fighting stance," Delaney said in a statement issued on Monday. "He was facing a male and female in a confrontation."
The officers exited the cruiser to calm the situation, Delaney said, but Laboy ran into the residence and then ran out the back door.
Marrero caught up with Laboy in the parking lot near 101 Lowell St. and tackled him to the ground. As Marrero tried to call for backup, Laboy put his hand into the officer's mouth "and attempted to rip his mouth sideways," according to Delaney.
Laboy broke free when Marrero was finally able to call for help.
The officers then chased Laboy to Riverside Road and along the river.
“The officers kept [Laboy] in sight and observed him take some more clothes off and jump into the Connecticut River. The officers repeatedly called out to the suspect to return to shore. [...] The current was swift and the water extremely cold,” Delaney said.
The Springfield Fire Department was called to initiate a rescue. A four-hour search of the river did not turn up Laboy.
In Monday's statement, Delaney said investigators feared Laboy drowned.
Witnesses at 39 Lowell St. stated that Laboy attempted to kick in the front and rear door. When he was not allowed entry, he broke into the home through a side window, Delaney said.
Laboy's girlfriend told officers that Laboy had been with her during the day and had been drinking, according to Delaney.
Charges are pending against Laboy, including for the reported breaking and entering and his alleged assault on Officer Marrero.
The Agawam and West Springfield police departments were notified of the incident.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Springfield Police Department's Detective Bureau at 413-787-6355.