HV Firefighters Save Fleeing Suspect

It happened Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Times Herald Record, city of Newburgh firefighters had to rescue a man who fell through the ice that was covering Muchattoes Lake in Newburgh.

The man, who was not identified, was trying to flee police officers when he fell into the water, according to fire department officials.

Assistant Chief Ed Petricek told the Record that, Newburgh Police placed a call to the fire department around 3:17 p.m. to report that someone was on the ice and about a minute later, police told the fire department that the man was in the water.

Once the FD was on scene, Petricek said that, two firefighters dressed in dry suits and attached by safety ropes to other firefighters on shore reached the man as he struggled about 200 feet from shore.

The fire department had the man out of the water by 3:30 p.m. and Chief Petricek said the man was showing effects of hypothermia after being rescued, and was taken to the hospital.

Police did not release any information as to why the man was fleeing from police.