Kentucky man drowns in creek after fleeing cops

The victim was with a man who was later charged with domestic violence.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Scuba divers found the body of a Kentucky man shortly after he drowned in Connoquenessing Creek around 3 a.m. Wednesday in Wayne Township, Lawrence County.
Robert Carpenter, 34, of Florence, Ky., was found in 6 to 8 feet of water near where he went under, a police report says.
Earlier, Pennsylvania State Police responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 1000 block of Rear Woodside Avenue. When officers arrived, Carpenter and two other men ran into the woods, the report says.
Once found, Carpenter and one of the men taunted police, and Carpenter entered the creek and refused to come out, police say. Shortly afterward, he began to struggle before drowning, the report said.
Arrested
The two men were friends of 36-year-old Paul D. Madison of Ellwood City, whom police arrested without incident in a nearby trailer in connection with the domestic situation. He was arraigned in District Court on charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault, and was taken to the Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $2,000 bond.
During the confrontation, Madison is accused of having choked, pushed and struck a household member, police said. The victim was treated at Ellwood City Hospital.
Assisting at the scene were the Ellwood City Police Department and the Beaver Falls Fire Department.
An autopsy was conducted Wednesday on Carpenter at Ellwood City Hospital. The drowning remains under investigation.