Police rescue man from Tug River in Martin County

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

Police rescue a man from the Tug River on New Year’s Day after he tries to flee from them.

Martin County Sheriff Deputy Chris Kidd first spotted the man identified as David Joshua Brown, 39, of Lovely driving on Rt. 292 on just a rim with no tire.

When the deputy turned around to investigate Brown had abandoned the truck before the deputy could make contact with him.

According to the deputy, they observed him walking along the road and when they made an attempt to speak to him, they realized he had an active warrant for a parole violation that’s when Brown resisted and was able to run away from them to R&J Building Supply in Lovely and that’s where he made the decision to jump in the river.

After struggling in the water, Brown was able to latch on to a downed tree in the river and hold on for nearly 15 minutes before he was able to crawl along the log to the river bank to first responders and officers.

According to the report, the ongoing river search for a missing individual from Johnson County David Blevins meant resources were already in place to rescue Brown from the frigid waters. Officials wrapped him up and transported him to a hospital for treatment for hypothermia.

Once medically cleared, Brown went to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where he now faces charges of operating on a suspended or revoked license, resisting arrest, first-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot), menacing, and a parole violation bench warrant.

The search continues for Blevins.