Pa. man wanted for fines swims away from police

CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Police and constables are continuing to search for a man who jumped into the Youghiogheny River in southwestern Pennsylvania to avoid arrest for $1,200 in unpaid traffic fines.

Fayette County Constable Rocky Younkin says authorities searched for 23-year-old Ronald Regish III, of Dunbar Township, for about three hours before giving up Monday afternoon.

Authorities went to a home where the suspect was staying and he ran away, eventually ending up along the riverbank. That’s when Regish jumped in the water and started swimming toward a small island. When authorities got there by boat, Regish had apparently already swam away.

A state police helicopter joined in the search to no avail.